Mechanical Seal Technical Library
Mechanical Seal Types: Classification by Construction, Arrangement and Working Principle
Mechanical seal types are grouped by construction, arrangement, pressure balance, secondary sealing element and spring design. This guide explains each classification axis with the engineering reasoning behind it. Two tables show which type suits which application and where our product series fit.
Silicon Carbide vs Tungsten Carbide: Comparing Mechanical Seal Face Materials
Silicon carbide and tungsten carbide are the two hard options for a mechanical seal face pair. This guide compares sintered and reaction-bonded SiC, cobalt- and nickel-bonded WC, carbon graphite and alumina ceramic on hardness, conductivity, chemical resistance, PV limit and cost, and shows which pair suits which fluid.
FFKM and Kalrez®: Choosing the Elastomer in a Mechanical Seal
FFKM (perfluoroelastomer) has the widest chemical resistance and the highest temperature limit of any elastomer used in the secondary seals of a mechanical seal. This guide explains how FFKM differs chemically from FKM, separates brand names such as Kalrez® from the generic material, tabulates NBR, EPDM, FKM and FFKM compatibility, and sets out when FFKM is mandatory and when it is over-specified.
Air Turbine Starter (ATS) Mechanical Seal Design
An air turbine starter (ATS) turns compressed air into the shaft torque that spins an aircraft engine; the seal on its output shaft keeps gearbox lubricant out of the air path. This guide covers how an ATS works, what loads its seal, and why carbon-graphite faces and metal bellows are chosen.
Selecting Mechanical Seals for Abrasive and Slurry Service
Slurry, sand-laden water and crystallizing liquors load a seal very differently from clean fluid. This guide covers how solids destroy it, why hard faces, protected springs and cartridges are used, and the choice between API Plan 32 and 53B.
What Is a Mechanical Seal? Working Principle, Components and Applications
A mechanical seal is a sealing element that stops fluid leakage where a rotating shaft leaves the housing, using two precision faces: one turns with the shaft and the other stays stationary. This guide explains the working principle step by step and covers components and applications in tables, with pointers to the related guides on seal types, materials and failures.
Mechanical Seal vs Soft Packing: How to Choose the Right Sealing Solution
A detailed comparison of mechanical seals and traditional soft packing. Understand the differences in leakage, energy consumption, maintenance costs, and environmental compliance to select the optimal sealing solution for your application.
Material Selection for Sealing Products: A Guide to Carbon, SiC, Elastomers and PTFE
Mechanical seal materials comprise the face pair, elastomer and PTFE secondary sealing elements and metal parts, while gland packings and gaskets have their own material families. This guide compares carbon graphite, SiC and tungsten carbide face pairs, elastomers from NBR to FFKM, the strengths and limits of PTFE and media-based selection in tables.
Mechanical Seal Failures: Causes, Diagnosis and Maintenance
A step-by-step field guide to finding the root cause of a leaking mechanical seal: separating leaks into faces, secondary seal and housing, the marks the main failure mechanisms leave on the faces, a symptom-to-cause table, a post-removal inspection sequence and a preventive maintenance checklist.
Pump Sealing Efficiency: Energy Savings and Total Cost of Ownership
Pumps consume 20% of global industrial energy, and sealing systems directly impact their efficiency. Explore how mechanical seal selection, flush plan optimization, and TCO analysis can reduce operating costs and meet environmental targets.