Eclipse Engineering Blog

Explore the history and evolution of buffer rings in hydraulic systems. Learn how PTFE revolutionized seal design, performance, and reliability.

Discover why surface finish is critical to polymer seal performance. Learn best practices, treatments, and cost–benefit insights for reliable sealing.

Learn about PTFE’s advantages and disadvantages, including its properties, performance limits, and when PTFE O-rings are the best sealing solution.

Learn how extrusion gaps affect seal performance, factors that influence extrusion resistance, and design strategies for high-pressure sealing success.

See how Eclipse solved a low-torque, deep-sea sealing challenge for AUVs with a custom spring-energized seal and EH042 thermoplastic elastomer.

Aside from ball valve seats or non-contact labyrinth seals, PTFE is rarely used without a secondary energizer. This is due to PTFE’s inelastic nature. Unlike urethanes or elastomers which possess an inherent springiness, PTFE is often considered an “unalive” material. Much like a lump of clay, it will not bounce back once deformed. Especially in dynamic applications, this is not a desirable quality. Fortunately, with the addition of a spring or elastomer energizer, all of PTFE’s excellent attributes can be fully exploited in terms of sealing. Much like the rest of the seal industry, Eclipse utilizes three metallic spring energizer types for the seals we manufacture. Canted Coil, Cantilever V-Spring, and Helical. While each spring type ultimately accomplishes the same task, energizing a PTFE or polymer seal jacket, we’ll see that each type has unique properties better suited to certain applications.  Figure 1 below shows generalized load versus deflection curves for the three spring types. As you can see, each one is quite a bit different, favoring distinct circumstances and applications. Though, we’ll also find out load curves are not only deciding factor when choosing a spring.

Explore the innovation behind Eclipse’s polymer superfinishing technique that enabled high-performance PTFE seals to meet extreme hydrogen leakage and durability requirements in cryogenic aerospace applications.

Discover how Eclipse Engineering optimized seal design for high-pressure CO₂ extraction, addressing extrusion gaps and wear ring exposure challenges.

Learn how Eclipse solved manufacturing challenges for micro spring-energized seals, optimizing sealing performance in epoxy dispensing equipment.

Learn how Eclipse Seal’s custom spring energized ball seats with angled grooves improve performance

Learn how Eclipse Engineering optimized a dual-lip crimped case seal for a high-speed rotary vacuum application, improving performance and reliability.