Seals used in special-purpose vehicles and agricultural machinery often operate under conditions that are very different from those of equipment installed in a controlled environment. Outdoor temperature, water, mud, dust, UV radiation, ozone, oils, fuels, vibrations and variable operating cycles can act simultaneously on the component and alter its behaviour over time. In these applications, the seal must not only prevent fluid leakage. In many cases, it must also protect th

An elastomeric seal may appear dimensionally correct, be manufactured from the specified material and provide effective sealing during the initial stages of operation. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will maintain the same performance over time. When a seal remains compressed inside its groove for prolonged periods, the material may progressively lose part of its ability to recover its original shape. This phenomenon is commonly known as compression set, one o