Examples of defects
- The primary function of an oil seal is to create a barrier between the rotating shaft and the housing, preventing the escape of oil while allowing the shaft to rotate freely. This is achieved through the use of a flexible material that conforms to the shaft's surface and creates a tight seal.
Valve Cover Gasket: Role in Engine Functionality
Oil seals made of HNBR are characterised by excellent properties that include high resistance to mineral oils with additives, low steam and gas permeability, good cold flexibility down to -30 °C depending on type, good ozone resistance and friction resistance. HNBR seals withstand heat up to 150°C.
Oil seals are made from multiple compounds and materials. Some of the oldest, still in use today, are leather and felt compounds. The trend in mass production, however, has seen a move towards synthetic rubber or elastomers. Nitrile is by far the most popular material but developments in PTFE have created a surge of interest in buyers needing seals for high-speed shaft rotation applications. Viton is taking over from the polyacrylic and silicone, as it works better in high-temperature applications and has a high-resistance to abrasion and harmful chemicals.



The simplest way is to know either the preferred manufacturers part number, the overall sizes of shaft diameter, housing diameter and bore depth, or use our brochure to establish the M Barnwell Services ordering reference. Many of the old traditional names of seal manufacturers have either changed or disappeared in this age of “acquisitions”. If no longer available, we will advise you and offer a suitable alternative seal, from stock whenever possible. If your concern is getting the right seals for the job, you will need to know something about the application as well as the overall sizes. If you have any doubts – contact us, we will help in your seal selection.
The simplest way is to know either the preferred manufacturers part number, the overall sizes of shaft diameter, housing diameter and bore depth.Many of the old traditional names of seal manufacturers have either changed or disappeared in this age of “acquisitions”. If no longer available, we will advise you and offer a suitable alternative seal, from stock whenever possible. If your concern is getting the right seals for the job, you will need to know something about the application as well as the overall sizes. If you have any doubts – contact us, we will help in your seal selection.
There are a wide range of oil seals to select from for any number of uses, so this guide will break down the most common seals to help you choose the right one for whatever piece of machinery you are working on.
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There are several materials used to manufacture oil seals. They are discussed below.
Product Manager of Sealing & Polymer Technology