Choosing a seal that is durable and long lasting is important no matter what the application is. While you may not be able to tell exactly how long a given seal will last, there are specific considerations that can help you determine which seal is best for your projects. Factors associated with the durability of a seal include the material, the amount of force, and the kind of force all impact the longevity and durability of a seal.

Determining Seal Durability

Making an educated guess on which seal is right for your project can lead to serious issues. The only way to effectively determine how long a specific seal will last is by using it in an application and measuring how long it takes for the seal to fail. Due to the risks associated with seal failure, multiply the rate at which it degrades over a period of time. Allowing the seal to run until it fails can have serious consequences and lead to a lot of damage. Using this method, seals tend to last around three years, but severe operations can significantly reduce the life of the seal.

Durability of Different Seals

Shelf life is another consideration when it comes to the durability and longevity of seals. The shelf life estimates are often very accurate due to the extensive research and development regarding seal applications. High quality seals have a much longer shelf life and degrade much slower as compared to cheaper knock-offs. The type of material used can impact the shelf life as well. In fact, rubber seals tend to have a shelf life of 15 years, while fluorocarbons and silicone seals have much longer shelf lives and degrade much slower. Seals created through compression transfer molding offer a variety of benefits as they are customized, durable, and long-lasting. 

Common Reasons Seals Fail

Seal failure should cause serious damage and cost a lot of money. Understanding the most common reasons for seal failure can help you prevent failure and prepare accordingly in terms of replacement. 

Initial Failure: Fast seal failure is often an indication that the wrong seal was chosen. This is why it’s important to choose the right seal for your specific application from the get-go. Understanding the shape, size, and design you need can help point you in the right direction in terms of finding the right seal. Certain materials, specifically corrosive or reactive materials, can weaken the seals at a much faster rate. Additionally, it’s necessary to know whether your application requires a seal that can withstand static or dynamic applications. Working with a sealant professional at Real Seal can ensure you choose the right seal for your unique application. They create specialty seals that meet your unique project needs.  

Random Failure: This is often caused by mechanical or procedural failure. Random failure occurs when the conditions around the seal change, and it is not necessarily the seal itself that is the issue. Something that puts extra strain on the seal, such as a rapid increase in pressure, temperature, or physical force are common causes of random failure. Environmental factors are common causes as weather changes can dramatically impact seal durability. It’s important to take these weather changes into consideration when choosing a seal for your application. 

Wear Failure: This is the ideal type of failure in the sense that the failure is only due to the fact that the seal has lasted for the expected duration and worn down as expected. When working with seals it is important to err on the side of caution and replace the seal before it completely wears down. Replacing it slightly early is much more cost-effective than the alternative.