
SKF
General Technical Information (Hydraulic Seals)
General technical information for hydraulic seals covers the fundamental parameters that influence seal performance: operating pressure (peak and continuous), fluid type and viscosity, operating temperature range, sliding speed, rod and bore surface finish, and hardware tolerances. SKF provides design guidelines for seal housing grooves, including dimensions, surface finishes, and lead-in chamfers. Information on extrusion gaps, permissible gap size relative to pressure and seal material hardness, and back-up ring application is included. Understanding these technical fundamentals ensures that the selected seal cross-section, material, and groove design are fully compatible, preventing failure modes like spiral twist, extrusion damage, and fluid bypass.
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Extrusion Gap Calculation
Maximum gap based on pressure, temperature, and seal material hardness.
Groove Design Standards
ISO 5597, ISO 6195, and SKF‑specific recommendations.
Surface Finish Requirements
Rod and bore Ra, Rz, and material ratio (Rmr) guidance.
Lead‑In Chamfers
Angles and lengths to prevent seal damage during assembly.
Back‑Up Ring Application
When and how to use to extend pressure capability.
Thermal Expansion Margins
Groove dimensions adjusted for operating temperature.
Preventing Spiral Twist Failure in Rod Seals
If the seal groove is not square to the rod axis, the seal can twist into a figure‑eight shape and leak catastrophically. SKF’s technical information specifies the maximum permissible angular deviation of the groove face — a tiny but critical tolerance that many general machining drawings miss.


Sizing an Extrusion Gap for a 400 Bar Cylinder
At 400 bar, a 70 Shore A NBR seal will extrude into a gap larger than 0.2 mm and fail. SKF’s technical data provides a chart: for that pressure and seal hardness, the gap must be ≤0.15 mm, or a PTFE back‑up ring must be added. This chart is an essential tool for cylinder design engineers.