+44 (0)1325 282732

Glossary of Tech Terms

Click here to download the file

Anti-extrusion Ring

A ring used to support a softer sealing ring and prevent it from extruding.

Back-up Ring

Anti-extrusion ring or support ring.


See Wear Ring

Bi-directional Seal

A seal that prevents leakage from both directions.

Cold Flow

Continued deformation under stress

Composite Material


Compression Set

The permanent deformation of a seal after release of a compressive load.


A copolymer is a polymer derived from two (or more) monomeric species.



Double acting Seal

A seal designed to take pressure from two sides.

Dynamic Seal

A seal designed to prevent leakage between two moving surfaces.




An elastic substance occurring naturally, as natural rubber, or produced synthetically, as butyl rubber or nitrile.


Distortion or flow of part of a seal into an extrusion gap under pressure.

Extrusion Gap

The clearance on the low-pressure side between two parts, which house the seal.

Face Seal

A seal that is compressed in a direction parallel to its axis.


Extruded material on the partially finished product formed during the moulding process.

Flex Cracking

A surface cracking induced by repeated bending or flexing.

Free Height

The height of a seal in its free-state.




A rubber, metal, or other material, for packing a piston or placing around a joint to make it seal a fluid or gas.


A cavity into which a seal is installed. Component at the working end of a cylinder which contains seals.


The measured resistance of a material to indention, abrasion, deformation, or machining.


A rigid component which contains a seal assembly.

Hydraulic Seal

A hydraulic seal is usually a relatively soft, non-metallic ring captured in a groove or fixed in a combination of rings, forming a seal assembly, to block or separate fluid in reciprocating motion applications.

Leakage Rate

The rate at which a fluid passes a seal in a given time.

Lip Seal

An elastomeric seal that prevents leakage in rotary seal applications through the use of one or more contact lips operating on the shaft surface. These seals are commonly called shaft seals, oil seals or rotary lip seals.


A toroidal shaped sealing device usually made from an elastomeric material, may also be made from metal or PTFE.


An elastomer with high temperature and chemical resistances.

Permanent Set

Permanent deformation of spring or elastomer upon release of load.


The passage of a fluid under pressure through a solid material by diffusion.


A material formed by the joining together of many (poly) units (mer) of one or more monomers.


Quality or state of being porous.




See "Elastomer"


A seal used to keep dirt or other foreign matter out of a hydraulic or pneumatic device.


A device designed to prevent the passage of a medium (fluid or solid).

Single acting Seal

A seal designed to take pressure from only one side.


A machine element capable of restoring energy and releasing it.

Static Seal

A seal between two non-moving parts.

Tensile Strength


Thermal Expansion

Expansion caused by increase in temperature.

Uni-directional Seal

A seal that prevents leakage from only one direction.


An enclosed space that is occupied by a gas at less than atmospheric pressure.




A minute amount of liquid passing by a seal.

Wiper Ring

See "Scraper"

Wear Ring

Element used to protect moving parts from wear.