Getting the sealing system team right

09 December, 2016

Establishing that friction and wear are significantly influenced by Lubrication Management, the added value for the customer is in improved wear resistance and performance of the secondary seal in need of redundancy. This satisfies many of the demand-driven trends, which are currently under discussion in the world of fluid power.

These trends include reduction of size and weight of hydraulic systems leading to an elevation in pressure and increases in speeds of hydraulic applications that means that polyurethane seals reach material limits. The sealing system in both cases can be improved through Lubrication Management.

Another issue is the coating of counter surfaces in hydraulic applications. These are often decided for technical reasons without any consideration of the sealing system, but can be a limiting factor in terms of the service life of seals within an application.

Spray coatings, such as High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) coating, differ a lot compared to standard galvanic processes such as hard chrome plating. The big difference in seal performance in view of a service time is related to the completely different surface topography of the differing coating technologies.

Roughness characteristics like embedded holes in the counter surface are a general challenge for sealing systems, as hole edges on the contact area can act like a knife, cutting the seal as it passes the holes, causing abrasive wear on the seals and wearing them out rapidly.

The cost related to modifying coatings or post processing to prevent wear can play a significant role in competitiveness on the international market. Implementing Lubrication Management on the sealing system can give more freedom in discussion of limits for seal performance in relation to roughness specifications, potentially lowering total cost of hydraulic systems.

Teamwork

Teamwork is undoubtedly important in optimising the performance of sealing systems in fluid power applications. Not only for the team designing the application with the customer but between the seals and lubrication in the sealing system itself.

It is important to ensure development of the most effective system in terms of operation, wear resistance and limitation of leakage that customers work with a seal supplier like Trelleborg who can bring a wealth of knowledge, test results, seal profiles and materials to each individual hydraulic system design, including an understanding of Lubrication Management.

www.tss.trelleborg.com