Rotary shaft seals, also known as radial shaft seals or more commonly called oil and grease seals, help prevent lubricant leakage by retaining the fluid within the application while simultaneously protecting it from the intrusion of dirt, dust and other harmful external contaminants. Shaft seals consist of a metal body, an elastomeric sealing lip and a garter spring. Based on these characteristics, rotary shaft seals can be divided into different categories:
Rotary shaft seals are readily available from stock in both Metric and Imperial (inch) sizes in the most commonly used elastomeric materials: Nitrile rubber (NBR), Fluorocarbon rubber (FKM/FPM) and Silicone rubber (VMQ).