Academic and student research support

Sealparts supports students, research groups and academic departments working on sealing technology. We supply materials, sample components, catalogue data and engineering guidance covering hydraulic seals, pneumatic seals, O-rings, bearing and guide rings, wipers and associated products — for projects, dissertations, test rigs and funded research.

Who this is for

• Undergraduate and MSc students on mechanical, materials, automotive, aerospace and marine engineering courses
• PhD researchers in tribology, contact mechanics, elastomer science and fluid power
• University departments and technical staff building or maintaining test rigs
• Formula Student, Shell Eco-marathon, human-powered vehicle and robotics teams
• Research institutes and knowledge-transfer partnerships working with industry
• Further-education engineering courses and apprenticeship training centres

What we can provide

Components and samples

• Hydraulic rod, piston and buffer seals in polyurethane, NBR, fabric-reinforced NBR and PTFE
• Pneumatic seals and low-friction profiles
• O-rings in metric, imperial and Japanese (JIS) sizes across a range of compounds
• Bearing rings, guide rings and wear bands
• Wipers and scrapers
• Rotary shaft seals and static gaskets
• Back-up rings, anti-extrusion rings and energised profiles
• Small sample sets for comparative testing across materials or profiles

Technical data and documentation

• Manufacturer catalogue extracts and profile drawings
• Material property data — hardness, tensile strength, elongation, compression set and temperature range
• Groove and housing dimension recommendations
• Surface finish and extrusion-gap guidance
• Chemical compatibility guidance for common fluids and media
• Failure-mode reference material for post-test examination

Engineering guidance

• Review of proposed seal arrangements before rig manufacture
• Advice on realistic pressure, speed and temperature envelopes for a chosen profile
• Help selecting a control specimen so results are comparable to industry practice
• Identification of unmarked or obsolete seals recovered from donated equipment
• Prototype and small-batch supply where a standard part does not exist

Typical research areas we support

• Friction and leakage behaviour of reciprocating rod seals
• Elastohydrodynamic lubrication and film thickness measurement
• Compression set and stress relaxation of elastomer compounds
• Wear and extrusion behaviour at high pressure
• Low-temperature sealing performance and glass-transition effects
• Alternative and bio-based hydraulic fluids and their effect on elastomers
• Hydrogen and alternative-fuel compatibility of sealing materials
• Explosive decompression resistance
• Seal behaviour in electrified and hybrid drivetrains
• Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of sealing systems

How to approach us

1. Describe the project — course or research programme, objective and timescale.
2. Outline the test conditions — pressure, temperature, media, speed and type of motion.
3. Give the geometry if known — rod or bore diameter, groove dimensions, or a sketch.
4. State the quantity required, including any spares for repeat runs.
5. Tell us whether you need material certification or traceability for publication.

You do not need a finished drawing or a complete specification to make contact. Early conversations often prevent a rig being built around a seal that cannot survive the intended duty.

Cost and availability

Educational and research enquiries are treated as engineering enquiries, not retail orders. Where quantities are small and the purpose is genuine study or research, we will do what we reasonably can on cost and lead time. Larger programmes, sponsored research and long-running rig work are quoted normally so that supply can be sustained for the duration of the project.

We are based in Coalport, Telford, and despatch throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.