What are hydraulic seals made of?

Hydraulic seals are non-metallic rings used in fluid power engineering, that prevent a fluid or gas from passing between different components of a cylinder, used in industrial applications.

Just as seals come in all shapes and sizes, for a multitude of applications, they also come in a variety of materials.

Most hydraulic seals use polymeric materials such a polyurethane, elastomers, rubber or polytetrafluroroethylene (PTFE).

The selected material of the seal will depend on the end use. Operating conditions such as high pressure, fluid compatibility, extreme temperatures, aggressive chemicals, working environment and legislation standards all impact on the chosen material.

Below are just some examples of common polymeric materials used to fabricate seals, utilised due to their hardwearing properties:

• Polyurethane
• Blue polyurethane (Food and Drug Association (FDA) compliant)
• Nitrile
• Viton/FKM
• Silicone
• Polyacetal (POM)
• PTFE (in its virgin state or can be filled with either glass, bronze or carbon)
• Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
• Nylon
• Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)
• Polyester
• Tufnol/Phenolic
• AFLAS
• NORSOK MATL (Oil & Gas industry compliant)

When choosing the right type of seal, to ensure the safe and optimum performance of a machine, seal material plays a big factor.

Not sure what you need? Get in touch with our knowledgeable team here at FPE Seals, who will discuss your requirements based on your application, and help you find the right seal for the job.

CONTACT US