The effect of aging during storage on the performance of a radial lip seal

Since aging is an inevitable phenomenon during storage of a radial lip seal, this study aims to investigate the effect of aging on the seal performance. An air oven aging test is conducted to produce aged rubber samples and seal products. An aging life prediction model is constructed to predict the equivalent material properties at any storage temperature. The material property parameters of aged rubber samples are measured in a uniaxial compression experiment. The pumping rate and friction torque of the seal are calculated through numerical simulation by using a mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model. A bench test is used to verify the aging life prediction model and the simulation results of the EHL model. Finally, the verified EHL model is used to study how aging during storage affects the lip seal performance, as characterized by the leakage and friction torque.