There is a British Standard laid down for the control of synthetic rubbers. BS 3574 (1989) helps to determine shelf life – for instance, Nitrile (NBR) and Polyacrylic (ACM) are Group ‘B’ rubbers and have a 7-year life, whilst Silicone (VMQ) and Fluoroelastomers (Viton®) are Group ‘C’ rubbers and have a 10-year shelf life. PTFE and Leather do not come into this category but like the others should be kept in the original packing for as long as possible away from direct light, dust, and humidity. Ozone, which can also be produced by battery-driven forklift trucks has a very bad effect on synthetic rubbers. Finally, protect the sealing lip – DO NOT hang the seals on nails, wire etc.

(1) Shaft speed Due to design and structural reasons, high-speed shafts should use high-speed oil seals, low-speed shafts should use low-speed oil seals, and low-speed oil seals cannot be used on high-speed shafts, and vice versa.

Oil seals are always exposed to a lot of chemicals, both mild and harsh chemicals. The seals react by showing some signs like cracks, blisters, and discoloration especially when the chemical is harsh. This clearly shows that the chemical is not compatible with the seal, which goes as far as affecting its cross-link density (increase or decrease). When the cross-link density increases, the seal material becomes harder, but when it decreases, the seal material becomes softer.

What should you take into account when selecting an oil seal? Different types of oil seals and various types of materials are available, each designed for specific uses. It is also important to select the right size of oil seal for the best results. For this reason, selecting the right oil seal requires adequate understanding of the application in which it will be used.