NASA TN 0-541 1

NASA TECHNICAL NOTE

_+-

o., /
t (74,

z
c

TORQUE A N D LEAKAGE RATES OF

VARIOUS LUBRICATED LIP SEAL
DESIGNS AT A PERIPHERAL VELOCITY
OF 120 FEET PER SECOND

by Luwrence P. Lndwig, Thomus N.Strom,

dnd Robert L. Johnson
Lewis Research Center
CZeueZand, Ohio

N A T I O N A L A E R O N A U T I C S A N D SPACE A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

W A S H I N G T O N , D. C.

SEPTEMBER 1 9 6 9

TECH LIBRARY KAFB, NM

1ll1Il111l0132202
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llIlI1111
1Il

TORQUE AND LEAKAGE RATES O F VARIOUS LUBRICATED LIP SEAL

DESIGNS A T A PEFUPHERAL VELOCITY

OF 120 F E E T P E R SECOND

By Lawrence P. Ludwig, Thomas N. Strom,

and Robert L. Johnson
Lewis R e s e a r c h Center
Cleveland, Ohio

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

.-

For sole by the Cleoringhoure for Federal Scientific and Technical Information
Springfield, Virginia 22151
CFSTI price $3.00

ABSTRACT
Lip-type shaft seals were run at peripheral velocities representative of require
ments in mechanical components for rocket engines. The s e a l s with butyl rubber Lips
had prominent wear-in torque peaks that were attributed to lip temperature rise and sub
sequent lip shrinkage (Gow-Joule effect). This effect could cause sudden failure; grad
ual wear-in, however, reduced failure probability. The s e a l s with glass-filled poly
tetrafluoroethylene lips also exhibited wear-in torque peaks. The s e a l s with graphitefilled polytetrafluoroethylene lips exhibited low leakage and good wear characteristics.
Runnifig torques of the various lip seal types were similar to that of a segmented-carbon
shaft seal. For butyl and graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip seals, the dynamic
gas leakage r a t e s were similar to the static leakage rates.

ii

TORQUE AND LEAKAGE RATES OF VARIOUS LUBRICATED LIP SEAL DESIGNS

AT A PERIPHERAL VELOCITY OF 120 FEET PER SECOND
by Lawrence P. Ludwig, Thomas N. Strom,
and Robert L. Johnson
Lewis Research Center
SUMMARY
Some mechanical components of rocket vehicles use lip-type shaft seals to prevent
leakage of bearing and gear lubricants. Although required seal life is only several
hours, the sliding velocity is high and data on s e a l life, leakage, and heat generation is
of interest. Various lip seal designs were run at speeds (24 000 rpm) representative of
rocket vehicle mechanical components. Running torques and lip temperatures were con
tinuously recorded in short-term runs to 600 seconds with z e r o p r e s s u r e differential
a c r o s s the seal. Starting torques and leakage rates were checked at p r e s s u r e s to 14 psig
(9.65 N/cm 2 gage). The lip orientation used produced a lip radial force that decreased
as p r e s s u r e increased. The seals with a butyl rubber lip exhibited prominent wear-in
torque peaks that were attributed to lip temperature rise and subsequent lip shrinkage
(Gow-Joule effect). These torque peaks could lead to sudden failure (burnout); gradual
wear-in, however, reduced the probability of failure. Seals with a glass-filled polytet
rafluoroethylene lip also exhibited wear-in torque peaks; s e v e r a l sudden failures oc
curred. The seal with a graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip exhibited low leakage
rates and good wear performance. Running torques of the various seals were s i m i l a r to
that of a segmented-carbon shaft-riding seal. For the butyl rubber and graphite-filled
polytetrafluoroethylene lip seals, the dynamic gas leakage was s i m i l a r to the static leak
age.

INTRODUCTION
Operational service time of the o r d e r of several hundred seconds at high shaft
speeds (i.e. , 24 000 rpm) is typical of the requirements of some rotating mechanical
components for rocket engines. With the addition of the ground checkout time, the total

Nitrogen gas at
s u r e P3-,%

r Lubrication tube
,Seal

,-Sheet

steel seal housing

lio

-Lip-to-shaft contact area

(region of lubrication film)

L.UUIII.

'

'-Shaft

diameter,

(3. 175k0.Oo0 cm)

0.002
CD-10364-15
Figure L - L i p seal apparatus (P2 > P1).

rotating operational time could be only s e v e r a l hours. F o r these conditions of high speed
and s h o r t operating time, elastomeric lip seals have been used in turbopumps for rocket
vehicles. Figure 1 shows a typical seal with an elastomeric lip. Usually the s e a l con
sists of a sheet steel housing which is p r e s s fitted in the housing of the turbopump. This
sheet steel housing carries the elastomeric lip which is loaded against the shaft by a
garter-type spring and/or by the interference f i t between the lip and the shaft. In gen
eral, the seal surface speeds are high (> 100 ft/sec or 3 0 . 5 m/sec), and the amount of
energy dissipated by the rubbing contact is necessary for calculation of a heat balance o r
thermal map of the mechanical component. For example, the heat generated by a seal
next to a bearing could effect a change in the bearing internal clearance. Thus, some
information on seal running torques is of interest. Further, during ground check out
and before flight, the seal condition is checked by pressurizing the seal and measuring
the gas leakage; thus some data on s e a l wear and static leakage ratio are of interest.
Manufactures of lip seals usually state seal operational capacity in t e r m s of limiting
shaft surface velocity and p r e s s u r e differential; these limiting figures usually apply to
operational usage of hundreds or thousands of hours, and manufacturers give a n approxi
mate maximum useful operation velocity of 50 feet per second (15. 2 m/sec) for a syn
thetic rubber lip seal. No data are given by manufacturers on the limiting speeds or
p r e s s u r e s for a useful life of several hours.
The useful life of a lip seal is dependent on the extent to which a lubrication film is
formed between the lip and the shaft surface and on the seal lip temperature. Studies on

the lubrication of synthetic rubber shaft s e a l s (ref. 1) indicate that full-film lubricxtion
can exist and that the film thickness was of the o r d e r of 0.0001 inch (0.00025 cm) thick.
No mechanism f o r film formation was postulated, but the higher velocities (27 ft/sec o r
8 . 2 m/sec) produced l a r g e r film thicknesses than the low-velocity (0.3 ft/sec or
0.09 m/sec) runs. This suggests that high peripheral velocities may not be detremental
to wear life. The film formation is probably associated with s m a l l (micro) slider
bearing geometries formed f r o m the elastic deformation of the lip material i n conjunc
tion with surface roughness and waviness. Similar microasperity lubrication of face
seals is discussed in reference 2. However, as compared with face seal, the seal lip
material has a much lower elastic modulus; therefore, local elastic deformation of the
sliding interface can more readily occur under the action of hydrodynamic forces.
These elastic deformations are conducive to formation of a lubricant film between
the lip and shaft; however, the data of reference 3 suggest considerable detrimental ve
locity effects. A s velocities increase, out-of-round shaft geometry causes local gaps
between the lip and the shaft surface because the lip cannot respond to the frequency of
the shaft disturbances. In addition, seal interface temperature, a factor that affects
film thickness, is dependent on the shaft surface velocity.
The objectives of this study are to (1) measure seal torque and gas leakage rates of
various lip s e a l designs and (2) compare the wear of the various seals.
The lip seals were operated at peripheral velocities of 120 feet p e r second (36.6
m/sec) in an oil-mist, nitrogen-gas atmosphere. Running torque, static torque, and
gas leakage rates were measured at various p r e s s u r e s (from zero p r e s s u r e differential
to applied p r e s s u r e s that tended to reduce the lip contact force). The seal lip materials
were butyl rubber, glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene, and graphite-filled polytetra
fluoroethylene. A segmented-carbon shaft-riding s e a l was used as the basis of com
parison.

APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

A schematic diagram of the apparatus used to evaluate the various lip s e a l s is shown
in figure 1. The seal lip r a n against a 304 stainless-steel sleeve that was mounted on
the stub end of a grinding spindle. The sleeve had a 1. 250-inch (3. 17-cm) nominal diam
e t e r and a 4- to 8-microinch (10.
to 20. 3X10-6-cm) plunge-ground (no axial grind
ing motion) and polished surface finish. The maximum dynamic runout was 0.001 inch
(0.0025 cm) as measured by a capacitance probe. A lubricating m i s t was produced by
dripping the lubricant (a synthetic diester, MIL-L-7808) on the rotating shaft at the rate
of 1 cubic centimeter p e r minute. The test s e a l was supported by a housing that i n turn
was supported by a torque-meter with a 50-inch-ounce (35.3-cm-N) capacity. In some

cases, the runs were made with zero pressure differential; i n other cases, the seal was
pressurized (nitrogen gas) to reduce the lip contact force (see fig. 1). This procedure
is the opposite of the conventional mode of operation i n which the seal assembly is such
that the sealed p r e s s u r e tends to increase the coiitact force. However, in s o m e shortt e r m applications, such as in components for rocket vehicles, applying the seal i n the
pressure unloading configuration is sometimes used so that the seal prevents gross lu
bricant leakage and allows the case to vent as the altitude of the vehicle increases.
Measurement of starting torque and leakage provided a relative gage of lip contact force.
Shaft speed (24 000 rpm) was monitored by a magnetic pickup. Leakage was measured
by a wet-test gas flowmeter, and the torque was continuously recorded on magnetic tape.
In some runs, a thermocouple was attached to o r embedded in the seal lip (see fig. 1).
A schematic diagram of the test seals, typical commercial seals, is shown in fig
ure 2. The approximate c r o s s sections of the seals with butyl rubber lips of 80 duro

,Sheet

S heet steel housing,

steel housing7,
I

,,-Loading spring 7,

I
\\,

Lip

Springs 1;

LCarbon
I
segments

Shaft diameter,
1.250 in.
13.175 cm)
Nominal outside
diameter,
2.00 in. (5.08 cm)

(a) Butyl rubber lip.

(b) Glass-filled
polytetrafluoroethylene lip.

(c) Graphite-filled
polytetrafluoroethylene lip.

(d) Segmentedc a r b n shaft

riding seal.

CD-10365-15

Figure 2

- Seal types evaluated.

meter hardness and the seals with glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (80 percent poly
tetrafluoroethylene) lips a r e shown in figures 2(a) and (b), respectively. These seals
are loaded by a garter spring. Figure 2(c) shows the approximate c r o s s section of the
seal with a graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. Mechanical springs for lip load
ing were not used in this design. The approximate crQss section of a segmented-carbon
shaft-riding s e a l that was run for comparative purposes is shown in figure 2(d). No ex

ternal heat was used; thus, the lip temperature rise was attributed to frictional heat
generated at the sliding interface.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Seal R u n n i n g Torque and Temperature
Seal with butyl rubber lip. - The torque and temperature variation during running
time for butyl rubber lip seals operating at zero p r e s s u r e differential and a velocity of
120 feet p e r second (36.6 m/sec) is shown i n figures 3 and 4. The traces of figure 3 are
typical of seals that failed suddenly after s e v e r a l minutes of operation. The sudden f a i l
ure was postulated to be a result of seal lip shrinkage. Shrinkage is known to occur i n
heated rubber materials under tensile stress (Gow-Joule effect). When assembled on the
shaft, the lip is i n tension and exerts a radial force against the shaft. Shaft rotation
causes frictional heat generation at the sliding interface, and this heat can increase the
lip tension (and radial force). More tension leads to more heat, and sudden failure can
be induced. In contrast, the torque and temperature traces in figure 4 are for a seal
that did not fail, probably because the initial lip inside diameter was l a r g e r and the ra
dial lip force lower than that of the run shown in figure 3. The s t e e p rise in torque (at

20.0t
3L

22.5r

-I 17*51
28

350

15.0

7-i

12.51

._

10.0

a?

200
350

5. 0
1501

325

2.5
100

300

O L

60

120
Time, sec

180

240

Figure 3. - Seal r u n n i n g torque and lip tem

perature as function of operating time. Lip
material, butyl rubber; shaft surface ve
locity, 120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec);
MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1cubic centi
meter per minute; initial lip inside diam
eter, 1.170 inches (2.972 cm); pressure
differential, zero.

20

425
Temperature
/---

400

Torque
A

"'[

v0-0

300

60

120

180

240
Time, sec

300

360

420

480

Figure 4. - Seal r u n n i n g torque and l i p temperature as function of op

erating time. Lip material, butyl rubber; shaft surface velocity,
120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1 cubic
centimeter per minute; i n i t i a l lip inside diameter, 1. 180 inches
(2.997 cm); pressure differential, zero.

85 sec) was typical of the seals with butyl rubber lips. The steep r i s e and subsequent
decrease were postulated to be the result of lip shrinkage followed by a s m a l l amount of
wear-in (corrective wear), after which the seal operated satisfactorily (as evidenced by
the s m a l l amount of lip wear measured at the end of the test). The lip wear was deter
mined by the width of the lip contacting the shaft; i n this case, the lip was 0.025 inch
(0.0635 cm) wide after operation. It should be noted that the lip temperature, measured
0.03 inch (0.076 cm) from the contact, is high (280' F or 410.9 K) under this type of
operation.
An additional r u n in which the lip contact force was decreased by an increase in
p r e s s u r e differential provided added evidence of the postulated corrective-wear theory.
2
The run (fig. 5) was s t a r t e d with a p r e s s u r e differential of 8 psig ( 5 . 5 N/cm gage),
and considerable gas leakage (5200 standard cu cm/min) occurred because of the re
duced lip contact force. The im,wrtant point noted was the sudden increase in torque
and subsequent decay each time the p r e s s u r e differential was decreased. Each reduction
in p r e s s u r e differential was accompained by a corresponding increase in torque because
of the increase i n lip contact force.
Further evidence of the corrective-wear process, for the seals with butyl rubber
lips, is provided in figure 6, which shows the torque variation with time for a sequence
of runs. In the first run of 60 seconds, the peak torque during acceleration to 120 feet
per second (36.6 m/sec) shaft surface velocity was 30 inch-ounces (2.12 cm-N). A torque
r i s e near the end of run 1 is s i m i l a r to that shown in figure 4 and suggests that the
corrective wear process had been induced by lip shrinkage that accompanied the lip tem

Pressure
differential,

8
(5.5)
;as leakage rate,
c u cmlmin
5200

6
(4. 1)

4
(2. 8)

2
(1.4)

0
(0)

100

<50

O L

60

120

Time, sec
Figure 5. - Seal r u n n i n g torque as function of operating time and
pressure differential. Lip material, butyl rubber; shaft surface
velocity, 120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808-D lubri
cant rate, 1 cubic centimeter per minute.

;L,
Run

20

7
+E,
e
a- 1
3
0
10
[5

k0

21 .

GO

43

1
120
Time, sec

180

u
240

Figure 6. - Seal r u n n i n g torque as function of operating time and

number of runs. Lip material, butyl rubber; shaft surface ve
locity, 120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808-D lubricant
rate, 1cubic centimeter per minute; pressure differential, zero.

perature rise. After cool down, the second run of 60 seconds duration exhibited lower
peak torque peak torque than the first run; no corrective wear occurred near the end of
the second run as with the first run, and the running torque was lower than that for the
first run. The third and fourth runs showed continued evidence of wear, in that both had
lower peak torques and running torques than runs 1 and 2.
Seal with glass -filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. - The torque and temperature
variation for a glass -filled polytetrafluoroethylene seal operating at zero p r e s s u r e dif
ferential at 120 feet p e r second ( 3 6 . 6 m/sec) is shown i n figure 7. An e r r a t i c torque

16

375t0F
al-

Torque

aa

al
CL

150

E
I-

b
0

325
3w

"

60

120

180

240

300
360
Time, sec

420

480

540

600

Figure 7. - Seal r u n n i n g torque and lip temperature as function of operating time. Lip
material, glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene; shaft surface velocity, 120 feet per sec
ond (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1 cubic centimeter per minute; initial
lip inside diameter, 1.230 inches (3.124 cm); pressure differential, zero.

surge occurred near the end of 540 seconds of operation; this torque is unexplained. In
additional runs (fig. 8) i n which the p r e s s u r e differential was decreased in steps from an
initial value of 14 psig ( 9 . 6 N/cm 2 gage), the torque indicated a s m a l l wear-in effect.
Each time the p r e s s u r e differential was reduced (thus increasing the lip contact force),
the torque increased slightly and then decayed slowly with increased running time Com
pared with the rubber butyl lip s e a l design, glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip ex
hibited a running torque that was l e s s sensitive to changes in p r e s s u r e differential. This
relative insensitivity is probably the result of the g r e a t e r stiffness of the filled polytetra
fluoroethylene and the lip geometry differences.
Further evidence of the wear-in process is provided i n figure 9, which shows the
rruzning torque as a function of time f o r a sequence of four runs. The first run exhibited
a torque peak(50 in. -02 o r 3 5 . 3 cm-N) that is probably the result of a wear-in process.
Succeeding runs (2, 3, and 4) with the s a m e seal had lower starting torques than the first
run and had no torque peaks.

Pressure differential.

leakage rate,
c u cmlmin
-Negligible

110 =

180

120
Time, sec

Figure 8. - Seal running torque and lip temperature as function of operating time and pressure differential. Lip material, glass-filled
polytetrafluoroethylene; shaft surface velocity, 120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1cubic centimeter per
minute.

0
N

Tt

c'
._

10
0

60

120
Time, sec

180

240

Figure 9. - Seal r u n n i n g torque as function of time and number of

runs. Lip material, glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene; shaft
surface velocity, 120 feet per second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D
lubricant rate, 1cubic centimeter per minute; pressure differ
ential, zero.

Seal with graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. - The torque and temperature

variation for a seal design with a graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip at z e r o pres
s u r e differential and 120 feet per second (36.6 m/sec) is shown in figure 10. The start
ing torque of approximately 24 inch-ounces ( 1 6 . 9 cm-N) was attributed to a lip contact
forced judged to be high. During the run, the torque was e r r a t i c and high initially; how
ever, the torque leveled off to a constant value of 10 inch-ounces (7.l cm-N) after
350 seconds of operation. The thermocouple cemented to the side of the lip registered
a temperature of 275' F (408. 2 K) at the end of the run.

mist

425b

300L

20

'a,
l2*j1
N

10.0

7 1
6
r
e
._
a-

7.5

12/-

,/

0
I-

2.
5+ 5

300

01-

4f0

60

120

180

240

300
Time, sec

360

420

480

540

600

Figure 10. - Seal r u n n i n g torque and lip temperature as function of operating time. Lip
material, graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene; shaft surface velocity, 120 feet per
second (36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1 cubic centimeter per minute; initial lip inside diameter, 1. 173 inches (2.979 cm); pressure differential, zero.

Segmented carbon seal. - A s a basis of comparison, the running torque of a

segmented-carbon shaft-riding seal wa,s measured (fig. 11) Each decrease i n p r e s s u r e
resulted in a corresponding decrease in running torque. Since the pressure differential
a c t s to increase the contact force between the carbon and the shaft, the relation of torque
as a function of p r e s s u r e shown in figure 11 should be anticipated. The torque t r a c e
shows that the segmented carbon s e a l does not have the marked fluctuations in torque
that occurred f o r the seal design with butyl rubber and filled polytetrafluoroethylene lips.
However, the running torque at z e r o p r e s s u r e differential is not significantly different
froin that for the lip s e a l s .
I

10

Pressure differential,
p2 -.p1,

Leakage rate,
cu c m l m i n

:11w

20

90

1 1 I
700

500

240

N
0

lo

t0

.-e
g
e
t

5-

.L
0

120

360

240

480

600

Time, sec
Figure 11. - Seal r u n n i n g torque and gas leakage rate as function of time and pressure dif
ferential, Seal material, carbon-graphite; shaft surface velocity, 120 feet per second
(36.6 mlsec); MIL-L-7808D lubricant rate, 1cubic centimeter per minute; sealed gas,
nitrogen (room temperature).

Starting Torque, Leakage, and Wear

Seal with butyl
- rubber
-.__lip. - Starting torque for hand-turned startup is plotted in
figure 12(a) for various sealed gas p r e s s u r e s . Also plotted in figure 12(a) is the ruiiiiing
torque at hand-turned speeds. As would be expected, this slow-speed running torque is
somewhat less than the breakaway torque.
Static leakage r a t e s measured at the time the starting torque values were deter
mined (before running at 120 ft/sec o r 36.6 m/sec) are shown i n figure 12(b). The
curve for static leakage indicates a gradual increase i n leakage as p r e s s u r e differential
increases t o 6 psig inch ( 4 . 1 N/cm 2 gage); be.tween 6 and 8 psig (4. 1 and 5. 5 N/cm 2
gage), the marked increase i n leakage rate indicates that the s e a l leakage gap has signi
ficantly increased. This point was termed the lip-opening p r e s s u r e . After running at
120 feet p e r second (36.6 m/sec), the lip-opening p r e s s u r e occurred at 5 . 6 psig
( 3 . 9 N/cm 2 gage) compared with 6 psig ( 4 . 1 N/cm 2 gage) before running. This lower
lip-opening p r e s s u r e was attributed to wear that was measured as an 0.021-inch
(0.032-cm) increase in diameter. Also plotted in figure 12(b) is the curve for the gas
leakage rate at 120 feet p e r second (36.6 m/sec). The comparison of leakage rates
11

l4Y

::I

-/i

1560 standard
cucmlmin

._

..E

..
E,

,-Starting torque for

accelei-ation to

l2 N
10

"
3

E
P

...

Torque (handturned speed1

,--Starting

w-

-Before
run

.a+
L

.a

07

x
.a

I-Ll

I
3

I 1 I I
8
1
0
0
2
Pressure differential, P2 - P1, psig

I
6

I I

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pressure differential. P2 - P1, Nlcm'gage

la) Torque.

lbl Leakage rate.

Figure 12 - Seal starting torques and gas leakage rate as function of pressure
differential. Lip material. butyl rubber; initial lip inside diameter, 1. 180 inches
(2.997 i m l ; sealed gas, nitrqen; new seal.

330 standard c u cmlmin

"
3

E
//
f
-

16

,-

"

,/,A

r\

Torque lhand
turned Speed'
;Running
/'
Starting

Starting torque
for acceleration
to 120 ftlsec
136. 6 misec)

After r u n (see fig, 71

80

-3

10

"

12

16
14
Pressure differential, P2 - PI,

I
16

psig

1 I

0 1
2
3
9 1011
Pressure differential, Pz - P,I NIcm2 gage

IO

11

lbl Static leakage rate,

la1 Torque.

Figure 13. - Seal starting torques and gas leakage rate as function of pressure differential. Lip material. glass-filled poly
tetrafluoroeiliylenc; sealed gas. nitrcqen; new seal.
: K t a r t for
i n gacceleration
torque
to 120 ftlsec
136.6 mlsec)
z

20

p;

pol$etrafluoro
ethylene lip seals

"
3

-Before

m
*

#-

w
e
L
m

,f'

i
,/

.a

x
m
A

200

-Durim run
at 120 ftlsec

'36 ""

After

I
0
2
Pressure differential, P2 - P1, psig

~
0

l
1

l
2

l
4

l
5

la1 Torque.

run

.a
3

--

1560 standard,,:;_----*
c u cmlmin

Torque lhandturned soeedl

Starting
Running ,>'

c 1200
._
E
--.

7
6
9
0
1
2
Pressure diflerential. P2 - P1, N k m 2 gage

1 0 1 2 1 4

1 I

lbl Leakage rate.

Figure 14. - Seal starting torquer and gas leakage rate as function of pressure differential. Lip material. graphitefilled polytetrafluoroethylene; sealed gas, nitrogen; new seal.

12

shown in figure 12(b) shows that the dynamic leakage is s i m i l a r to the static leakage at
2
seal p r e s s u r e s to 6 psig (4. 1 N/cm gage). Dynamic leakage was not determined for
2
p r e s s u r e s greater than 6 psig ( 4 . 1 N/cm gage).
Seal with glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. - The starting torque values of the
glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene seals are shown i n figure 13(a). In comparison with
the butyl rubber lip seal, the glass-filled polytetrafluoroethylene seal does not exhibit a
lip-opening p r e s s u r e (before running) in the differential p r e s s u r e range of 0 to 14 psig
2
(0 to 9.6 N/cm gage). Also, for any given pressure, the leakage rates are lower
(fig. 13(b)) than that f o r the seal with a butyl rubber lip. These lower rates may be at
tributed to the greater bending stiffness of the filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. A f t e r
running, the leakage rate was significantly greater than that before running; this in
crease was attributed to the 0.014-inch (0.035-cm) diametral wear. Two other runs
with new seals ended i n failure after 15 seconds of operation; thus this seal design had
high failure probability under these conditions of operation.
Seal with graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip. - The starting torques of the
graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene seals are shown in figure 14(a). Comparison with
the torques for the butyl rubber seal (fig. 12(a)) shows that the pressure does not unload
the lip contact p r e s s u r e as readily, and, therefore, the leakage is l e s s (fig. 14(b)); the
leakage curve of the butyl rubber seal (fig. 12(b)) is included for comparison in figure
2
14(b). The s e a l lip-opening p r e s s u r e occurred between 10 and 12 psig (6.9 to 8 . 3 N/cm
gage) before running. After the run, the s e a l did not open in the range of 0 to 14 psig
2
(9.6 N/cm gage), and the leakage rates were the lowest of the three s e a l designs eval
uated. The change in diameter (permanent set plus wear) was 0.047 inch (0. 119 cm).
In two other runs with new seals, the leakage and torque results were s i m i l a r to that
shown in figure 14. One of these runs was made without lubrication. In general, the
graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene seal exhibited good wear and the lowest leakage
rate of the three types of lip seals evaluated. (This evaluation is based on the total de
signs and not materials alone. )
The data suggest that the seal design with a graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene
lip may be useful for very low-leakage sealing against a small p r e s s u r e differential
(to 8 psig or 5 . 5 N/cm 2 gage) applied so as to reduce the lip contact force. However,
long-term storage and running, in which cold flow of the lip material is important, has
not been evaluated in this study.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Lip seals of various types were run to peripheral velocities of 120 feet per second
(36.6 m/sec). Torque and lip temperature were continuously recorded during short
13

t e r m (to 600 sec) operation with z e r o p r e s s u r e differential a c r o s s the sea

Starting
torques and leakage rates were checked at p r e s s u r e differentials to 14 psig (9.6 N/cm 2
gage). The pertinent r e s u l t s apply to the seal design as a whole and not solely to lip
materials.
The following results were obtained with respect to the s e a l running torque:
1. The seal with the butyl rubber lip exhibited a prominent wear-in torque peak.
This wear-in torque was postulated to be associated with lip shrinkage due to heating
(Gow-Joule effect). This lip shrinkage can lead to sudden failure at the shaft velocities
employed, but gradual wear -in decreased the probability of failure.
2. Seals with glass -filled polytetrafluoroethylene lips also exhibited a wear -in
process and high failure probability under some of the test conditions.
3 , Seals with graphite -filled polytetrafluoroethylene lips had e r r a t i c and high wearin torques that were attributed to the high initial lip contact force characteristic of this
s e a l type.
4. In general, lip-seal running torques (after the wear-in process) were s i m i l a r to
that f o r segmented-carbon shaft-riding seals.
The following results were obtained with respect to leakage and wear:
5. The seal with a graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lip exhibited the lowest
leakage rate and good wear characteristics.
6. Dynamic gas leakage was s i m i l a r to the static leakage for the s e a l designs with
butyl rubber lips and graphite-filled polytetrafluoroethylene lips.
Lewis Research Center,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Cleveland, Ohio, March 5, 1969,
120-27-04-21-22.

REFERENCES
1. Jagger, E. T. : Study of .the Lubrication of Synthetic Rubber Rotary Shaft Seals.
Conference on Lubrication and Wear, Inst. Mech. Eng., London, Oct. 1957,
pp. 409-415.

2. Hamilton, D. B. ; Walowit, J. A. ; and Allen, C. M. : A Theory of Lubrication by

Microirregularities. J. Basic Eng., vol. 88, no. 1, Mar. 1966, pp. 177-185.
3 . Dega, R. L. : Zero Leakage: Results of an Advanced Lip Seal Technology.
67-WA/L~b-l1, ASME, NOV. 1967.

14

NASA-Langley, 1969

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