Experimental study of radial lip seals with different sleeve coatings

Lip seals are vital components. Found on a range of machines, they are used to keep oil or grease within a system and help to prevent the ingress of contaminants. This article describes research that looks at the performance of various seal–shaft combinations by testing four different sleeve coatings – tungsten carbide, chrome oxide, hard chrome and stainless steel – in conjunction with radial lip seals pressured by preloaded garter springs. To find optimum sleeve coating and seal combinations, leakage and performance are investigated using an experimental test-bench.