Influence of Sludge on Seal Performance

There is a case of leakage caused by improper lip contact due to the build-up of sludge on the lip area. Sludge, which is mainly carbide, is generated typically from aged oil under high temperature (150°C or more) conditions. However, it can also be generated in driving systems such as transfers. We analyzed the mechanism of sludge generation and optimized the seal design to avoid leakage under this environment.