Materials Science Forum Vols 532-533 (2006) pp 81-84 Online: 2006-12-15

© (2006) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.532-533.81

Experimental Investigation on Friction Performance of Mechanical Seals

with a Laser-textured Seal Face
Xinqi Yu1,a, Meihong Liu2,b, Zhenhui Wang1,c, Peiying Peng1,d
and Renliang Cai3,e
1
Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050054, China
2
Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
3
East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
a
yxqyxq0016@163.com, blmh_lmh3369@sina.com, czhenhuiwang@126.com,
d
pengpeiy@163.com, erlcal-c@online.sh.cn

Keywords: Laser, Mechanical seals, Friction torque, Face temperature rise

Abstract. Regular micro-surface structure in the form of micro-pores produced on the face of
mechanical seals by laser technology can be used to improve the friction performance of the seal
mating rings. A test rig with variable axial load was used to test laser-textured seal rings with
micro-pores of various pore depth and pore ratio to study the effect of the laser-textured seal face
structure parameters on the friction performance of mechanical seals. It is found that there are
optimum texturing face parameters at which the friction torque and the face temperature rise of seal
rings are minimum. Results of these tests show that the micro-pores on one of the seal mating faces
can generate substantial hydrodynamic effect.
Heat generation due to frictional contact on seal-ring surfaces is a major factor that causes
deterioration of face seals and shortens their service life[1,2]. Excessive temperature rise can be
avoided by improving structure of a seal surface. By means of laser technology return-flow structure,
oblique line groove and spherical micro-pores are engraved on the seal face[3-5]. The research
shows that substantial hydrodynamic effect can be generated between the seal faces with
micro-pores[6-8]. In this study experiments are performed on laser-textured micro-pores seal faces
at various axial loads to investigate the effect of the face structure and operating parameters on
friction torque and face temperature rise.

Experimental Details
Test Specimen. Carbon is the most commonly used seal ring material because of its superior wear
and corrosion properties. Silicon carbide has been widely chosen as the mating ring material against
carbon for its high hardness and thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion and
good compatibility with carbon. In this study, a ring made of commercially available carbon
impregnated with resin was selected for the rotating seal ring. Sintered SiC was chosen as the
stationary meting ring material. The mating faces of the rings are polished and only the silicon
carbide ring is textured. The laser texturing can be controlled to produce spherical micro-pores at
selected diameter, depth and pore ratio. The textured rings are then super-polished to remove the
bulges formed at the pores rims. Some untextured rings were also super-polished to the same
surface roughness and served as a reference for comparison with the performance of the textured
rings. Each ring has an outside diameter of 27.5mm, an inside diameter of 21.5mm. Pore diameter
for all rings was 100μm, pore depth hp was varied from 2μm to 50μm, pore ratio (area density) Sp
range was 0.1-0.6. Fig.1 is an enlarged view of the laser-textured micro-pore seal face.
Test Rig. All experiments were performed on a specially prepared test rig shown schematically
on Fig. 2. The textured ring (lower stationary ring 3) was mounted in a special holder that allowed
self-alignment of the ring and also permitted axial loading of the textured ring against the upper
rotating ring. This holder can be also used to measure the friction torque developed between the
upper and lower ring during the test. Water was supplied by pressured gas and the mating faces
were lubricated. A thermocouple was mounted on the holder to measure the seal face temperature.
Test Procedure. The load was exerted on end of the lever to ensure that the closing force

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82 Advances in Materials Manufacturing Science and Technology II

reached the predetermined value. Each test included a 900 second running-in period with a constant
speed of 1200 r·min-1. After running-in rotational speed was changed in step of 250r·min-1 from
500r·min-1 to 3000r·min-1. Each speed steps runned for 300 seconds. The seal face temperature and
friction torque were measured at intervals of 30 second. The axial load on the lower ring was
increased from 34N to 170N. Each test was carried out with the conventional seal ring for
comparing with the laser-textured seal ring.

1.Motor 2.Rotary ring 3. Stationary ring 4. Torquemeter

5.Lubrication discharge 6.Load 7.Buffer tank
Fig.1 Seal surface with micro-pores 8.Frequency converter
Fig.2 Schematic of test rig

Results and Discussion

Friction Torque. Friction torque value reflects friction condition of the seal mating rings and is an
important parameter that affects seal performance and service life of mechanical seals.
Effect of Rotation Rate on the Friction Torque.
(1) Effect of rotation rate on the friction torque at various pore ratios
Fig.3 presents the effect of the rotation rate on the friction torque for three values of axial load at
various pore ratios and pore depth hp=10μm. As can be seen, the friction torque of the laser-textured
seal face is lower than that of the untextured seal face at various axial loads. This result shows
regular micro-pore structure on the faces of mechanical seals can be used to enhance the friction
performance of the seal mating rings.
0.06 0.1 0.12 untextured
Friction torque T/N·m

0.05 0.1 Sp=0.1

Friction torque T/N·m
Friction torqur T/N·m

0.08
0.04 0.08 Sp=0.3
0.06
Sp=0.4
0.03 0.06
0.04 Sp=0.5
0.02 0.04
Sp=0.6
0.01 0.02 0.02

0 0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

Rotation rate n/r·min-1 Rotation rate n/r·min-1 Rotation rate n/r·min-1

(a) 34N (b) 68N (c) 136N

Fig.3 Effect of rotation rate on the friction torque at various pore ratios

It is seen from Fig.3 that the friction torque decreases with increasing rotation rate. It is shown
that opening force generated by liquid film hydrodynamic pressure between seal faces increases
with increasing of rotation rate. With Sp=0.5, n＞2000r·min-1 at 34N and n＞2750 r·min-1 at 68N,
the value of friction torque is very low and the friction torque curve becomes horizontal line. In this
case, opening force balances with the axial load and liquid film separates the sealing faces.
(2) Effect of rotation rate on the friction torque at various pore depths
The effect of the rotation rate on the friction torque at various pore depths is presented in Fig. 4
for three values of the axial load at pore ratio Sp=0.5. With hp=10μm, n＞2000r·min-1 at 34N and
n＞2750 r·min-1 at 68N, the value of the friction torque is very low and the friction torque curve
becomes horizontal line. It is shown that liquid film separates the sealing faces.
It can be seen from Fig. 4 that the larger the value of the axial load, the higher the friction torque.
With hp=10μm at the axial load of 136, the friction torque curve is not horizontal line. This result
 Materials Science Forum Vols. 532-533 83

shows that as the axial load is large enough the seal faces contact each other and cannot be
separated by liquid film.
0.06 0.1 0.2
untextured
Friction torque T/N·m

Friction torque T/N·m

Friction torque T/N·m

0.05 0.08
0.15
hp=2μm
0.04
0.06
hp=5μm
0.03 0.1
0.04 hp=10μm
0.02
0.05 hp=20μm
0.02
0.01
hp=50μm
0 0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

Rotation rate n/r·min-1 Rotation rate n/r·m in-1 Rotation rate n/r·min-1

(a) 34N (b) 68N (c) 136N

Fig.4 Effect of rotation rate on the friction torque at various pore

0.1 0.1

Friction torque T/ N·m

0.08 0.08
Friction torque T/N·m

0.06 0.06

0.04 0.04

0.02 0.02

0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Pore depth hp /μm P ore ratio Sp

Fig.5 Effect of pore depth on the friction torque Fig.6 Effect of pore ratio on the friction torque

Effect of Pore Depth on the Friction Torque. Fig.5 shows the effect of pore depth on the
friction torque for pore ratio Sp=0.5 at rotation rate n=2000r·min-1 and the axial load of 68N. As can
be seen, the friction torque changes with increasing of pore depth. There is an optimum pore depth
at which the friction torque is minimum. This pore depth is about hp=10μm. Therefore, the
appreciate pore depth can enhance hydrodynamic pressure between seal mating rings and decrease
the friction torque.
Effect of Pore Ratio on the Friction Torque. Fig.6 shows the effect of pore ratio on the friction
torque for pore depth hp=10μm at rotation rate of n=2000r·min-1 and the axial load of 68N. It is
seen that the friction torque decreases with increase of pore ratio at Sp<0.5. The friction torque at
Sp>0.4 is lower than that at Sp<0.4, and there is an optimum pore ratio at which the friction torque is
minimum. This pore ratio is about Sp=0.5. In a word, large pore ratio can generate low friction
torque, but for excessive pore ratio the decrease of the friction torque is not obvious and processing
cost is higher.
Face Temperature Rise. Face temperature rise of the mechanical seals is an important
parameter in examining the friction condition between the seal faces. Excessive temperature rise
can greatly alter the seal geometry and vaporize the sealing fluid, resulting in a condition of
boundary lubrication. These effects usually lead to excessive leakage and ultimately render the seal
inoperable. In this study, the face temperature rise was measured to reveal the regulation of the
effect of face structure parameter on the face temperature rise.
Effect of Pore Depth on the Face Temperature Rise. Fig.7 illustrates the effect of pore depth
on the face temperature rise for laser-textured (pore ratio Sp=0.5) and untextured seal faces at three
values of axial loads. As can be seen, the face temperature rise of the laser-textured seal face is
lower than that of the unextured seal face at various axial loads. The face temperature rise changes
with changing of pore depth. There is an optimum pore depth at which the face temperature rise is
minimum. The optimum pore depth hp is about 10μm, and minimum face temperature rise is only
half of that of the untextured seal face. The result shows substantial hydrodynamic effect can be
generated and the friction condition is improved while a befitting pore depth is chosen. It is
consistent with the effect of pore depth on the friction torque.
Effect of Pore Ratio on the Face Temperature Rise. The effect of pore ratio on the face
temperature rise for laser-textured (pore depth hp=10μm) and untextured seal faces at three values
84 Advances in Materials Manufacturing Science and Technology II

of axial loads is shown in Fig.8. It is seen that the face temperature rise decreases with increase of
pore ratio at Sp<0.5. The face temperature rise for value of Sp>0.4 is lower than that for value of
Sp<0.4, and there is an optimum pore ratio at which the face temperature rise is minimum. This pore
ratio Sp is about 0.5.
12 25 50
Temperature rise t/ ℃

Temperature rise t/ ℃

Temperature rise t/ ℃
10 20 40
8
15 30
6
10 20
4
2 5 10

0 0 0
Untextured 2 5 10 20 50 Untextured 2 5 10 20 50 Untextured 2 5 10 20 50

Pore depth hp /μm Pore depth hp /μm Pore depth hp /μm

(a) 34N (b) 68N (c) 136N

Fig.7 Effect of pore depth on the face temperature rise

12 25 12
Temperature rise t/ ℃

10 10
Temperature rise t/ ℃

Temperature rise t/ ℃
20
8 8
15
6 6
10
4
4
2 5
2
0 0 0
Untextured 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 Untextured 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 Untextured 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Pore ratio Sp
Pore ratio Sp Pore ratio Sp

(a) 34N (b) 68N (c) 136N

Fig.8 Effect of pore ratio on the face temperature rise

Conclusions
The tests were performed to investigate the effect of the laser-textured seal face structure and
rotation rate on the friction performance of mechanical seals. It was found that compared with the
untextured conventional mechanical seals, the friction torque and the face temperature rise of the
laser-textured mechanical seals with micro-pores are much lower. It is shown that the presence of
the micro-pores on one of the seal mating faces can generate substantial hydrodynamic effect. The
experiment results demonstrate that there are optimum texturing face parameters at which the
friction torque and the face temperature rise of seal ring are minimum.

References
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[3] H.K. Müller: Proceeding of 16th International Conference on Fluid Sealing (Professional
Engineering Publishing Limited, United Kingdom 1997).
[4] B. Antoszewski and J. Rokicki: Proceeding of 16th International Conference on Fluid Sealing
(Professional Engineering Publishing Limited, United Kingdom 1997).
[5] I. Etsion: Proceeding of 16th International Conference on Fluid Sealing (Professional
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[6] X.Q. Yu, S. He and R.L. Cai: J. of Mat. Proc. Tech., Vol.129(1-3) (2002), pp.463.
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Advances in Materials Manufacturing Science and Technology II
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Experimental Investigation on Friction Performance of Mechanical Seals with a Laser-Textured Seal

Face
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