Selecting an elastomeric material is important to the life of a radial shaft seal. The elastomer’s resistance to temperature, abrasion, chemicals, weather, sunlight and ozone can affect a profile’s success in an application. The base polymer must be selected to ensure that these parameters are satisfied without creating excessive costs.
Radial shaft seals are made from various elastomers, but the most widely used are Nitrile (NBR), Polyacrylate (ACM) and Fluorocarbon (FKM). There are a variety of compounds available depending on the system parameters. Select the elastomer that best suits your application.
For help selecting the right elastomer try our material selection tool. This interactive web app allows you to adjust application criteria and filters suitable material. You can also select a chemical to see material exposure rating. For parameters or chemicals that are not listed, contact ESP Engineering for more information.