Key Points
- Proper lubrication is essential to preserve O-ring integrity: without compatible seal grease, friction increases, promoting premature wear and reduced operational life.
- Compatibility between lubricant and elastomer is crucial. Variations in dimensions, hardness, or brittleness can compromise sealing and generate leaks. Choosing compatible seal grease is fundamental to prevent these issues.
- Seal lubricants protect against chemical agents and impurities, maintaining elastomeric surfaces intact and preventing contamination that leads to unplanned replacements.
- Adequate lubrication improves regular system operation, reducing unwanted resistance, irregular friction, and energy consumption due to suboptimal sliding.
- The stability of elastomer physical properties is preserved by specific seal greases, which maintain elasticity, mechanical behavior, and sealing capacity over time.
- MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™ solutions support dynamic and static applications, improving sealing, operational efficiency, and durability of elastomer components.
The selection of the correct seal paste or seal grease is a technical factor crucial for preserving reliability and O-ring performance.
Incompatible lubricants can modify the physical properties of elastomers, such as swelling, shrinkage, or hardness variations, compromising both sealing capacity and operational durability of the system. For this reason, Mascherpa experts support the selection of the most suitable seal lubricant based on elastomer type and application conditions.
Index
- Why lubrication is crucial for seal operational durability
- Compatibility with elastomers: an essential requirement
- How seal lubricants improve assembly and sealing
- MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™: friction control and protection in real applications
- Value of correct selection for elastomer protection over time
Why lubrication is crucial for seal operational durability
Components made of elastomer represent an efficient alternative to metallic components, allowing reduction of temperature due to friction and extending the operational life of machinery. However, without Smart Lubrication™ these advantages may be lost.
From MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™ technology emerge essential functions including:
- friction control;
- material compatibility;
- protection from chemicals and impurities;
- regular operation and operational efficiency;
- stability of elastomer physical properties.
Friction control
Control of friction is a fundamental function for preserving the integrity of O-rings and seals. The absence of adequate lubrication increases direct contact between elastomeric surface and metallic parts, promoting accelerated deterioration and reduced operational life.
A seal grease formulated for this function allows maintaining regular sliding, limiting temperature increase during operation and preventing premature wear typical of dynamic applications or those subject to micro-movements.
Material compatibility
The compatibility between lubricant and elastomer is essential for maintaining component stability. In the absence of this compatibility, the physical properties of the polymer can vary over time: dimensions, hardness and brittleness can change, compromising the seal’s ability to maintain the correct contact pressure.
A suitable seal lubricant reduces this risk, helping to preserve the original geometry of the O-ring and ensure sealing continuity during operation.
Protection from chemicals and impurities
The elastomers used in seals can be exposed to chemicals, impurities or foreign particles that, over time, degrade the surface and reduce their effectiveness.
Lubrication formulated to protect the material creates a stable barrier that limits interaction with contaminants and aggressive agents. This way system contamination is prevented and the risk of premature replacements of components is reduced.
Regular operation and operational efficiency
Adequate lubrication contributes to regular system operation, maintaining constant mechanical behavior of the elastomer and ensuring controlled sliding conditions.
In the absence of specific seal grease, irregularity in movements can increase starting resistance and increase energy consumption. The use of a lubricant formulated for these applications supports more efficient transmission of forces and greater stability in operation.
Stability of elastomer physical properties
Variations in the physical properties of elastomers, such as dimensions, hardness, or brittleness, directly affect a seal’s ability to ensure effective sealing. Without compatible lubrication, these variations can emerge over time, compromising seal effectiveness and operational continuity of systems.
A suitable seal grease helps maintain stable material characteristics, preserving elasticity, integrity and behavior under load.
Compatibility with elastomers: an essential requirement
The compatibility between lubricant and elastomer is a fundamental parameter. An unsuitable lubricant can cause physical changes that compromise performance and sealing. In particular:
- swelling or O-ring shrinkage;
- hardness variations;
- loss of elasticity;
- reduction in the ability to maintain contact pressure.
Mascherpa’s experience in selecting elastomer lubricants ensures that the seal paste or grease selected does not interfere with the material structure, preserving stability and performance.
How seal lubricants improve assembly and sealing
- Facilitate O-ring assembly;
- reduce mechanical wear;
- improve sealing effect, thanks to the sealing power of some lubricants (silicone lubricants for seals);
- ensure stable sliding over a wide temperature range;
- protect surfaces from external impurities.
During assembly, O-rings are compressed between two components: the use of a suitable seal grease maintains the sliding surface and reduces initial friction, limiting the risk of damage.
Products like MOLYKOTE® 111 Compound are suitable in these contexts thanks to their ability to remain stable, compatible with many plastics and elastomers and prevent seals from adhering to metal.
MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™: friction control and protection in real applications
The MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™ lubricants offer specific solutions that:
- control friction and extend operational life;
- improve sealing in static applications;
- protect from external contamination;
- improve operational efficiency;
- reducing replacement costs and maintenance activities.
Indicated applications include:
- dynamic metal-rubber interfaces;
- fittings and valves in static conditions;
- pneumatic systems;
- automotive components.
In these configurations, products like MOLYKOTE® U-N Paste, designed to reduce friction e wear, or MOLYKOTE® 7 Release Compound, which ensures excellent rubber lubrication, are suitable for preserving elastomeric surfaces and improving sliding.
Value of correct selection for elastomer protection over time
The durability of an O-ring directly depends on the choice of seal grease and its compatibility with the elastomer. Correct lubrication allows controlling friction, protecting from external agents, preserving dimensional stability, and ensuring consistent performance over time.
The Mascherpa experts support companies in evaluating the application, the type of elastomer and the operating conditions, identifying the most suitable solution within the MOLYKOTE® Smart Lubrication™ range to ensure reliability, efficiency e protection in the long term.
For more information visit the Mascherpa Expert page or contact our experts directly.
