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Low Friction Seals
Low Friction Lip Seals - our smart and efficient one-piece sealing solution.
Rulon® Low Friction Lip Seals are the smart answer to radial sealing challenges in devices such as valves, actuators and pumps. By maintaining low and consistent friction levels they enable faster response times, precise control, and downsizing of assemblies. Meanwhile, advances in their design and processing reduce production and assembly costs.
Frameless PTFE seals: effective and economical.
These radial lip seals are entirely made from Saint-Gobain’s renowned Rulon® PTFE tape. They have no metal frame, nor is there a need for any additional fixings or metal parts.The smart simplicity of their one-piece solution makes them the industry’s lowest-cost PTFE seal solutions for low friction sealing. Removal of frame and fixing parts from the equation also reduces complexity and expense in terms of component supply and handling, as well as assembly line equipment. The result is easily the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) of any PTFE low friction seal on the market.
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| Fast & Accurate Response Time | Low Energy Consumption | Rotary & Linear Movement | Chemical Resistance | |
| excellent variance due to low stick-slip |
low actuation force |
fast, accurate and reliable movement in rotational and linear direction |
Water-glycol, oil |
High energy efficiency and fast response.
With minimal breakaway torque or friction, and no stick-slip effect, Rulon® radial seals allow the fastest possible response time. In addition, their low and consistent friction levels ensure precise control of all movements. Low friction also reduces power consumption, so the assembly’s functions can be achieved with smaller valves, e-motors, solenoids or other actuators – and often with fewer gear wheels. This downsizing of systems by using Rulon® low friction seals helps to reduce overall weight, too. In electric vehicles, this further contributes to energy efficiency and range extension.
Smooth and reliable performance.
The formulation of the Rulon® PTFE tape in these dynamic seals, along with their specific manufacturing processes, creates a soft, highly flexible material with a strong memory effect. This maintains consistently low friction, provides runout and dimensional tolerance compensation, and reduces NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Importantly, our frameless Rulon® seals work effectively with soft shaft and housing materials, like plastics, as well as with hard metals.
Thousands of applications.
Rulon® flexible PTFE seals offer important and a broad range of important benefits to design engineers in the automotive sector and many other industries. Here are just a few examples of their applications.
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| Control Valves | Actuators | Compressors, Pumps & Blowers | Robotics & Automation |
| for oil, water and other coolants | pneumatic and hydraulic | fast-performing applications | |
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2-3-way valves for thermal management, |
transmission, camshaft, |
air and CO2 compressors (suspension, HVAC), |
any automated equipment using actuators, |
| hydrogen flaps and valves for bothe anode and cathode, | e-axle*, IC engine, | air concentrators, vacuum pumps, coolant pumps, | robotic painting arms, |
| air bypass valves | cooling, park lock | hydrogen blowers | dust and scraper seals |
*E-axles have multiple sealing needs. Our specialized range includes both high speed seals and low speed seals to cater for these applications individually. We supply them to OEMs as well as Tier 1 and 2 companies.
How do we do it?
Building on the properties Rulon®
We start with the well-established advantages of Rulon® PTFE tape. Its low friction and self-lubricating properties provide reliable, maintenance-free performance even in dry running conditions. The material is robust, extremely hardwearing and chemically inert. Rulon® radial seals will cope with temperatures ranging from -266⁰C to +266⁰C and pressures up to 35 bar. Our state-of-the-art compounding technology and homogeneous blending of the seals’ specific ingredients achieves the soft, flexible properties needed in these seals.
Designs that work – constantly
A strategic combination of the lip seal’s geometrical structure and the material’s memory effect results in application of constant radial load against both the shaft and the housing. It ensures prevention of leakage whilst simultaneously compensating for any runout or dimensional tolerance. This is true for both rotational and linear movements, and even for oscillating motion.
Efficient production
Essentially, we use a deep drawing process in which Rulon® PTFE material is subjected to plastic and dynamic deformation to create the required lip seal geometry. A key difference between this and competitors’ processes is our use of large billets. This allows production at high volumes, resulting in greater efficiencies and lower costs.
Global facilities and strict standards
Every step in the highly automated manufacturing process of our Rulon® low friction product line is carried out in-house, under strict control, to guarantee minimal variation. Multiple physical and performance parameters including the PTFE material’s thickness and the resulting friction levels, are accurate and constant across the three continents where we have manufacturing facilities to produce Rulon® low friction seals. Additionally, local manufacturing avoids long-distance supply chain problems.
Tailored to your needsLike all our products, our Low Friction Seals will be custom-designed, configured and manufactured according to the requirements of your individual application and order.
Our engineers will work closely with you at all stages to understand and meet those needs precisely. Discuss your challenges with us, engineer to engineer. |
Need further information? Please download the document or contact our experts directly.
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