Service life of seals – numerical simulation in sealing technology enhances prognoses

Predicting the life of elastomer sealing elements used in severe environments, represented by high temperature and/or aggressive fluids, is rather difficult. This paper presents a service life prediction technique based on the principle of chemical deterioration rates and the strain energy density concept that permits one to approximate the useful life of an elastomeric sealing element exposed to any severe service environment by means of numerical simulation.