3M™ Silicon Carbide Gas Seal Rings

Effective Sealing for Turbo/Gas Compressors
Used for sealing turbo/gas compressors, 3M™ Silicon Carbide Gas Seal Rings operate on the basis of the contact-free relative movement of the rotor and stator at extremely high speeds and with a minimum sealing gap. Microstructures introduced into the running surface provide the “air cushion” that allows contact-free rotation. This helps minimize leakage and reduce or eliminate the need for seal ring maintenance. Our seal rings have proven to be an economical solution.

An Excellent Material Choice
Silicon carbide’s high mechanical strength, excellent thermal conductivity, high stiffness and corrosion resistance all work together to help this product perform at a high level.

A Range of Options for Demanding Operations
We also offer microstructuring of gas seal rings and DLC coatings. Special high strength grades are available for high-speed compressor applications. Seal rings for Turbo/gas compressor seals are available for a wide range of shaft diameters. They can be used in service pressures up to 200 bar; temperatures from about -200°C to +450°C; and linear velocities up to approximately 175 m/s.

The Differences Among Silicon Carbide Grades
3M offers three grades of silicon carbide in this product, each exhibiting various properties. Differences are described below:

The all-purpose grade
3M™ Silicon Carbide Grade F 
Good chemical resistance, low specific density, high hardness and wear resistance, outstanding thermal conductivity properties and resistance to fluctuations in temperature. 3M silicon carbide grade F combines all these specific advantages of sintered silicon carbide, particularly for bearings and seals for use in pumps.

The high-strength grades
3M™ Silicon Carbide Grade F plus and Grade T plus 
Two high-density materials achieve the optimum strength for silicon carbide. These non-porous, fine-grained grades are designed to provide very high mechanical strength and edge stability. 3M silicon carbide grade F plus and grade T plus are ideal materials for complex thermal and mechanical loads.

About 3M Advanced Ceramics
3M advanced ceramic products are manufactured at ISO 9001 and 14001 certified facilities. Our manufacturing processes are optimized for quality, efficiency and consistency – helping ensure reliable and repeatable product performance. We have more than 85 years of experience in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge ceramic solutions, and we continually work to develop new applications for ceramic materials in cooperation with our customers and with research institutions.