Laser Textured Shaft Surfaces on the Pumping Action and Frictional Properties of Lip Seals

In order to study the influence of surface topography of shaft on pumping action and frictional properties of lip seals, the surface textures on rotary shaft are textured with a solid-state pluse Nd:YAG laser, and a series of comparison experiments under different rotational speeds, different surface topographies are conducted on an oil seal tester, some parameters such as pumping rate, friction force and temperature increment of seals during the experimental process are measured. Some lip surfaces after experiment are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the surface with triangular micro cavity toward oil side could enhance the pumping action, and the rotational speed plays an important role on pumping rate. The rest textured surfaces don't have positive effect on pumping action. In contrast with the surface without laser texturing, the surfaces with circle micro cavity having area densities of 7% and 21% show better friction reduction, and with triangular micro cavity lagging and leading can reduce the friction.