The Correlation of Rotary Shaft Radial Lip Seal Service Reliability and Pumping Ability to Wear Track Roughness and Microasperity Formation

The performance of elastomeric radial lip seals for rotating shafts and hub applications can be correlated to the texture of the wear track on both trimmed and molded sealing lips. Seals with rough wear tracks have an abundance of microasperities that provide good pump rates and excellent service reliability. Seals with smooth wear tracks have no microasperities, poor pump rates and poor service reliability. The pumping ability of seals with smooth wear tracks can be enhanced for a short time by artificially roughening the wear tracks. Pumping ability and service reliability can be improved by changing elastomeric material formulations to provide microasperities in the wear track.