Main topics / Research projects of the IMA

Hydraulic Seals:

• Hydraulic rods for low friction and low leakage

Non-contact Seals:

• Non-contact sealing of high speed shafts
• Non-contact shaft sealing with grease packing

Shaft Seals:

• Influence of wetting by the lubricant on the function of dynamic seals
• Reliability of rotary shaft lip-type seals
• Direction of rotation independent PTFE-packings with spiral groove
• Analysis and modelling of wear on PTFE sealing elements
• Reliable sealing on innovative shaft materials and innovative shaft coatings
• Structural analysis of sealing counter-faces
• 3D surface topography
• Reliable sealing of grease and liquid grease by means of rotary shaft seals

Static Seals

• Limitation of use of modern liquid sealants at housing interfaces
• Sealing of unequal housing interfaces

The following listed test benches and test facilities are available at the institute for investigations:

• 19 test benches for rotary shaft seals
• Test benches for hydraulic rod seals
• Test bench for scrapers / wipers
• Tribology test bench, ellipsometer
• Test benches for static flat seals
• Test bench for profile seals X-, R- and O-rings
• Tensile testing machine, Radial force measuring equipment
• 3D-Coordinate measuring machine
• 3D-Measuring instruments for surface topography (contact and contactless, e.g. white light interferometer)
• Surface energy and contact angle measuring instrument
• Optical analysis of surfaces, 3D-Microscopic optics
• FE-Working places
• Scanning electron microscope