The Difference Between Contact Seals and Non-contact Seals

The relationship between seals and bearings: contact seals have direct contact with the bearing components and have no gap; non-contact seals do not contact the bearing components and have an appropriate gap

Usage environment: Contact seals, due to their contact nature, have greater friction and generate more heat, which can easily lead to poor lubrication and wear at the contact points, resulting in a decrease in sealing effectiveness and performance. Therefore, they are only suitable for medium and low-speed working environments; non-contact seals, on the other hand, generate almost no friction heat and have no wear, making them particularly suitable for high-speed and high-temperature situations.

Sealing Effect and Lifespan: Contact seals have a good initial sealing effect, but as usage time increases, wear caused by friction can reduce the sealing effect; non-contact seals have a longer lifespan and facilitate heat dissipation from the bearings, but lubricant can be lost, resulting in greater wear.