What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Mechanical Seal? Is There A Variance Between Dry-Running And Wet-Running Seals?

What is the average life expectancy of a mechanical seal? Is there a variance between dry-running and wet-running seals?

What is the average life expectancy of a mechanical seal? Is there a variance between dry-running and wet-running seals?

It is very difficult to determine an average seal life. The life of a mechanical seal depends on many variables. The severity of the service is the primary determining factor. Generally speaking, the higher the temperature, pressure and speed of the agitator, the lower the seal life. The chemicals in the vessel, especially in the vapor space, will also determine seal life. Certain chemicals attack the faces or O-rings causing corrosion. The runout of the agitator is also a very large factor, the general rule of thumb being that the greater the inaccuracy, the lower the seal life. Runout is caused by many factors, such as old or improperly maintained equipment, improper assembly of equipment, and running the agitator at the liquid level in the vessel. In general, the life of a lubricated seal is higher than a dry seal by a factor of two for the same service.

Why O-ring Shelf Life Matters for Industrial Seals

Not all O-rings are created equal when it comes to O-ring shelf life, as materials deteriorate at different rates.

O-rings play an essential role in many types of equipment, and they may fail if the seals are not stored properly or past their useful lifespan. Failed O-rings can lead to equipment damage, unscheduled downtime, and safety hazards.

 

Learn About O-ring Shelf Life Time And Storage Recommendations

The Society for Aerospace Engineers (SAE) has issued guidance for O-ring shelf life based on the material used. When stored properly, O-rings have a shelf life of the following:

 

  Shelf Life Time

  Unlimited (25 Years)

  15 Years

  5 Years

  Material

Butyl Rubber, Isobutylene Isoprene IIR

Ethylene Propylene, EPDM, or EP

Fluorocarbon (Viton) FKM

Fluorosilicone FVMQ

Perfluoroelastomer FFKM

Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) PTFE

Silicone VMQ

Tetrafluoroethylene Propylene (Aflas®)

Fluorosilicone

Chloroprene (Neoprene) CR

Ethylene Acrylic (Vamac) AEM

Hydrogenated Nitrile

HNBR, or HSN HNBR

Nitrile (Buna-N or NBR) NBR

Polyacrylate ACM

Polyurethane (Polyester or Polyether) AU / EU

Styrene Butadiene (Buna-S) SBR

Urethane - Industrial Cast Polyurethane EU

 Storage Conditions 

Industrial seals should be stored in a controlled environment indoors

Humidity levels below 65%

Templateures between 59℉ and 77℉

It is crucial to keep all industrial seals in their OEM packaging and out of sunlight to protect seals from ozone, oils and solvents

Kept in a controlled environment away from sunlight and solvents

Humidity levels below 75%

Templateures between 59℉ and 100℉

Ambient temperature between 59℉ and 100℉

Freezing temperatures may cause the rubber to harden and distort

Excessive heat can cause permanent and premature and

Store seal out of sunlight and away from ozone-generating electrical devices, radiation, and oxygen when possible

 

 

What is Shelf Life?

Shelf life is the maximum amount of time an appropriately packaged seal is expected to last between the time of manufacture and the time the seal is put into use. Shelf life varies according to the type of O-ring or industrial seal. When a seal has been in storage longer than its shelf life, even under ideal conditions, it is no longer serviceable for its intended purpose.

Maintaining seals throughout their intended shelf life involves providing a storage environment free from light, oxygen, ozone, and chemicals. Excessive heat, freezing temperatures, and physical impact may cause permanent damage to elastomers, rendering them useless. 

Be sure to check elastomeric products before installation to confirm that they are in good serviceable condition. Hardening, softening, stickiness, cracking, and discoloration all indicate that there may be a problem with the seal.

 

Factors Affecting the Shelf-Life of O-rings

O-ring material is not the only factor affecting industrial seals' shelf life. Operating and storage conditions can decrease their lifespan, and rubber can crack, harden, soften, or degrade in ways that make it unsafe for its intended use. In addition, most O-rings have a widely accepted shelf life, which helps manufacturers prevent catastrophic failure due to an old seal.

Environmental factors influencing O-ring shelf life include stress and strain on the seal, humidity, light, radiation, temperature, and ozone. Contact with various other materials can also impact O-rings, including elastomers, liquid and semi-solid materials, dusting powder, and metals.

 

 

Questions About O-Ring Shelf-Life

If you have questions or concerns about O-ring shelf life and storage conditions, let’s talk. Our O-ring and seal experts at Wyatt Seal can help you spend less time searching for answers and guide you on ideal storage conditions for the solutions you need. Talk to a sealing expert at Wyatt to discuss special packaging options.

Everything you need to know about

Shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other names are only a few of the many names given to oil seals. They are simple components used in rotary shaft machinery to keep oil from leaking and impurities like dust, dirt, and water out. However, an oil seal’s most crucial role is to safeguard all ball, sleeve, and roller bearing types found in rotating shafts. Additionally, the seals stop blending two fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as water and oil.

What are oil seals?

A mechanical tool called an oil seal keeps lubricant from leaking out of the machine. It accomplishes its goal by sealing the equipment’s moving and stationary parts. Additionally, it prevents impurities from getting inside the machine and shortens its lifespan, an important role it completes.

Numerous oil seals exist, including PTFE lip oil seals, rubber fabric oil seals, and rotating V-seals.

An oil seal kit is a set of oil seals with the necessary dimensions and desired characteristics. An oil seal kit is more cost-effective and advantageous than buying individual oil seals.

Types of oil seal NBC offer 

Oil or other seals can be used for grease and oil seals. A flexible lip, radial lip, or rotating shaft seal are different names for an oil seal. Single lip, double lip, triple lip, and four or more lips are frequent configurations.

Double dust lip seal

A seal with a garter spring design is the Double Dust Lip (DDL) seal. It has two dust lips, as the name would imply, plus a fluid lip with a garter spring to keep the lip firmly attached to the wear ring. Given the ongoing evolution of bearing seal designs, this seal would be considered a starting seal. For more than 50 years, this design has been the workhorse of the freight business; it still is in some regions. NBC Brenco Bearing Seal performs the fundamental task of keeping contaminants and grease out. Because of the garter spring, this seal would add the most torque and temperature to the bearing.

Efficiency plus bearing seals

Due to eliminating the fluid lip using poly inserts and rotors, the Efficiency Plus (EP) seal has a reduced torque value of fewer than 15 in-lbs. Although it features a triple dust lip rather than a double dust lip, the dust lip is still a molded component of the design. A labyrinth-like insert and rotor interlock each other to replace the fluid lip. NBC Brenco labyrinth provides excellent grease while lowering the torque required to rotate the seal.

Other types of oil seal and grease seals include:

Single lip oil seal

Metal cased

All rubber or polymers

Internal orientation

External orientation

Axial orientation

Spring-energized

Purpose of oil seal

To serve as a physical barrier that keeps the lubricant in the designated area.

To stop the lubricating oil from leaking outside despite high oil pressure.

Act as a barrier to keep debris, contaminants, and other outside elements out of the system containing the lubricating oil.

Why is bearing a seal important?

Why are sealed bearings favored over the unsealed alternative? Why ought sealed ball bearings be preferred to unsealed ones? What advantages can sealed ball bearings offer?

Worry-free lubrication

No contact

Self-contained

What are bearing isolators?

Dynamic seals called bearing isolators are used to shield bearings from external impurities. They are revolving (rotor) and stationary (stator) elements. O-rings or strong seals are used in some bearing isolators, while they are constructed like labyrinths in others.

Different types of bearing seals

For many bearings, a good bearing seal is essential. Bearing seals perform a dual function by keeping lubricants from leaking out while preventing impurities from entering your parts. Both procedures can help your bearings last longer, but choosing the proper seals for your components is critical. Different types of bearing seals include:

Contact seals

No-contact seals

Labyrinth seals

Pick the proper seal for your bearing with the NBC bearing

.

Several variables, including maximum temperatures, required lubricants, available space, and more, may influence your choice of bearing seal. Each factor can affect the type of bearing best for your application, the amount of material required, and other factors.

Although the choice of seals is crucial to the effectiveness of your bearings, you don’t have to make that choice alone. Our experts at NBC bearings can collaborate with you to identify the bearings and bearing seals that provide the best, most affordable solution for your application, environment, and finished product.