Abstract Within the last years, the amount of fluorelastomer (FKM) seals are increasing dramatically in industrial applications such as gearboxes due to its outstanding characteristics and superior performance. In terms of thermal stability resistance and compatibility towards lubricants FKM has wider application ranges compared to other sealing elastomers. However combined with low-viscosity, synthetic lubricants i.e. polyalphaolefin (PAO) or polyalkylene glycols (PG) macroscopic wear grooves were reported on hardened shafts. This can, but does not necessarily lead to leakage and the breakdown of a sealing system, which may cause serious damage to the environment and the machine, where the functionality of the seal is often crucial for the whole system. So far a clear explanation does not exist, just a few theories or assumptions, for this behavior can be found in the literature. Driven by that fact this article presents a detailed wear analysis of a critical combination for shaft wear in a system of fluorelastomer seal, polyalphaolefin lubricant and case hardened and twist-free ground shafts of AISI 5115 (1.7131,16MnCr5). The wear behavior of state-of-the-art radial shaft seals out of fluorelastomer seals was investigated. This wear phenomenon was reproduced using endurance tests on a multi-shaft test rig. Typical characteristic parameters and values of the sealing system performance were analyzed and correlated to shaft wear. For further understanding of this system, selected samples were analyzed with different recent methods of surface and thin film analysis. The results indicate that there is a clear relation between seal and shaft wear. The occurrence of shaft wear is also caused and influenced by a complex combination of lubricant-elastomer interaction. Based on this findings, a wear hypothesis is derived.

中文翻译：

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由于润滑环境中的径向轴密封而导致轴过度磨损。第一部分：分析和机制

摘要 近年来，氟橡胶（FKM）密封件因其突出的特性和优越的性能，在齿轮箱等工业应用中的使用量急剧增加。在耐热稳定性和与润滑剂的相容性方面，FKM 与其他密封弹性体相比具有更广泛的应用范围。然而，据报道，与低粘度合成润滑剂，即聚α 烯烃 (PAO) 或聚亚烷基二醇 (PG) 相结合，在硬化轴上会出现宏观磨损槽。这可能但不一定会导致密封系统的泄漏和故障，这可能会对环境和机器造成严重损害，而密封的功能通常对整个系统至关重要。到目前为止还没有明确的解释，只有一些理论或假设，这种行为可以在文献中找到。基于这一事实，本文对氟橡胶密封件、聚α-烯烃润滑剂和 AISI 5115 (1.7131,16MnCr5) 表面硬化和无扭曲磨削轴系统中轴磨损的关键组合进行了详细的磨损分析。研究了氟橡胶密封件中最先进的径向轴密封件的磨损行为。这种磨损现象是在多轴试验台上使用耐久试验重现的。分析了密封系统性能的典型特征参数和值，并将其与轴磨损相关联。为了进一步了解该系统，使用不同的最新表面和薄膜分析方法对选定的样品进行了分析。结果表明，密封件和轴磨损之间存在明显的关系。轴磨损的发生也是由润滑剂-弹性体相互作用的复杂组合引起和影响的。基于这一发现，推导出磨损假设。