Where there is friction, there is wear. This also applies to seals. Here the wear depends on:
- The system pressure (seal is pressed against a surface);
- The surface roughness of the sliding surfaces (R a = 0.25 to 0.5 μm with a contact ratio t p >50 % or R p <0.5);
- The thickness of the lubrication film (if the seal scrapes off the lubrication film, boundary friction or dry friction occurs with correspondingly high wear);
- The material characteristics (good sliding behaviour and high abrasion resistance prevent seal wear).
Seal wear is mostly not due to a single aspect. Instead it comprises:
- Abrasion wear,
- Wear due toerosion and cavitation,
- Fatigue wear,
- Extrusion wear on the rear edge.