Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

The effect of surface texture geometry on the frictional behavior of graphite mechanical seals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Adib Riahi
Masoud Farahnakian
Hamzeh Shahrajabian
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Na. C, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
10.22034/ijme.2025.519612.2073
Abstract
Mechanical seals serve as critical components in industrial rotary systems, playing a decisive role in preventing pressurized fluid leakage and reducing energy losses. The optimal performance of these seals largely depends on the frictional behavior between their contact surfaces, which is itself influenced by surface geometric characteristics and topography. In this study, various geometric textures with identical surface densities were created on rotary mechanical seals using a 30W fiber laser. The sample textures were designed as diamond (rhombic), circular, and square patterns. Friction measurements were conducted using a custom-built test rig under varying pressures and rotational speeds. Experimental results demonstrated that textured surfaces consistently outperformed non-textured surfaces in sealing behavior across all test conditions. Within the pressure range of 5-15 bar (typical for high-flow industrial centrifugal pumps), the diamond-patterned surface exhibited superior performance compared to other textures, reducing torque and friction by approximately 50% relative to the non-textured surface.
Keywords
Mechanical Seal
Texture Geometry
Textured Surface Density
Friction Test
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