What are spring energized seals?

Spring-energized seals are essentially lip seals, or U-cups, comprised of high-performance elastomers—typically polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Is PTFE safe for O rings?

PTFE’s High Temperature Range The temperature range (-1,000F to +4,000F), nonreactivity, water resistance, and low friction properties of PTFE make it an ideal material to build O-rings for use in a wide variety of applications.

What is PTFE seal?

PTFE (commonly known as Teflon) became the seal material of choice. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is an inert material which makes it resistant to nearly all chemicals and acids. It is also self-lubricating, making it great for applications which are either dry, or have an abrasive media.

Can PTFE be used on rubber?

One of the key aspects of rubber is its friction co-efficient; bonding rubber and PTFE can be the ideal solution. All polymer types can be bonded to PTFE so a wide range of working environments can be accommodated, and, just as importantly, various grades of PTFE can be used.

How does a spring seal work?

When the seal is installed into the seal cavity, the seal lips and spring energizer are deformed/compressed in radial direction. The spring energizes the jacket, providing resilience to lips (pushing the the seal lips out) and resulting in an effective sealing device in dynamic and static applications.

Is PTFE rubber or plastic?

Fluoroelastomer (FKM) rubber is a thermoset elastomer while Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a thermoplastic. Both are fluorinated materials comprising of carbon atoms surrounded by fluorine atoms, which gives them incredible chemical resistance.

When would you use the lip type seals?

The primary purpose of a lip seal is to exclude contaminants while retaining lubricants. By nature, lip seals function by maintaining friction. They can be used in a variety of applications from slow-moving equipment to high-speed rotation and in temperatures from below freezing to more than 500 degrees F.

How long do lip seals last?

Seal life well in excess of three years is possible for the large majority of applications. The seal face shown in Figure 1 is an example of a robust design that is used in high pressure or speed applications with the ability to handle severe transients and periods of inadequate lubrication.

Was seal in an accident?

Some have speculated that they’re tribal ritual scars or that they resulted from a horrific accident, both of which are incorrect. Here’s the real story: The facial scarring is a result of a skin condition known as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE).

When to use spring energized Seal seals?

Spring-energized PTFE – PTFE Seals. Spring-energized PTFE seals are typically used in areas where elastomeric seals cannot meet the frictional, temperature, pressure, or chemical-resistance requirements of the application.

How does a PTFE spring create a seal?

Our thin flexible PTFE sealing jacket, resilient by design, utilizes a spring designed to apply outward pressure to the sealing element at low pressures. A highly efficient seal is created as the system pressure increases enough to take over from the spring and engage the shaft or bore.

Do you need a groove for a PTFE seal?

This type of groove is recommended mainly for rotary applications, where it is desirable to prevent the seal from rotating in the groove. Since It is not recommended to stretch the Spring Energized PTFE seals, attached are special design seal grooves that will make it easier to install the seals without stretching them.