What makes LaserFace ™

technology unique?
LaserFace™ is the only seal face technology that achieves full-face lubrication and extended seal life at low
seal leakage levels for almost all mechanical seal applications. LaserFace™ works with high and low viscosity
oils, water, chemicals, volatile hydrocarbons, liquefied natural gases and a wide variety of other liquids.

Figure 3 Figure 4
100 FACE 350
FRICTION STA N DA R D LaserFace ™
M E C H A N I C AL S E AL M E C H A N I C AL S E AL
90
LE A K AG E
300 20
R E L AT I VE P E R F O R M A N CE %

80

250

P RES S U RE ( b a r g )
P RES S U RE ( p s i g )
70
15

60
200

50
10
150
40

30 100
5
20

50
10 SAT U R ATE D VA P O U R P R E S S U R E

0 0
200 250 300 350 400 450
CO N VE N T I O N AL CO N VE N T I O N AL LaserFace ™ TE M P E R AT U R E ( F )
S E AL S E AL W I T H I N LE T S E AL
ST R U C T U R E O N LY
100 150 200 250
TE M P E R AT U R E ( C )

Performance Comparisons, LaserFace™ to conventional seal and seal with conventional hydrodynamic feature and performance
improvement (in this case hot water).

LaserFace , an improvement ™

over existing technology?

Conventional hydrodynamic solutions, grooves, slots and
Figure 5
400
25
waviness, increase the seal interface gap and reduce
LaserFace ™
LIMITS
seal face wear, however, this also increases seal leakage.
20
300
LaserFace™ enhances seal face lubrication at the
P RES S U RE ( b a r g )
P RES S U RE ( p s i g )

API 682
Qualification
Test Condition
15
same time as reducing seal leakage.
200

10
Seal face surface treatments are also common
100
5
methods of trying to improve seal face lubrication.
SAT U R ATE D VA P O U R P R E S S U R E
These treatments trap a small amount of liquid in the
0
seal face and rely on this for lubrication.
0 25 50 75 100 125 150
TE M P E R AT U R E ( F )

-20 -5 10 25 40 55 70
The unique features of the LaserFace™ groove
TE M P E R AT U R E ( C )
structure continually exchange this liquid, ensuring
The curve shows how close to the SVP point (in this case a cooler and more reliable interface lubrication,
propane) a LaserFace™ seal can run when compared to API682 which is especially important where liquids are hot
qualification tests. oils, or prone to vaporising or oxidising.

Europe, Middle East, Africa Asia Pacific Latin America North America
Slough, UK Singapore Sao Paulo, Brazil Morton Grove, Illinois USA.
Tel: 44-1753-224000 Tel: 65-861-1288 Tel: 55-11-3049-9979 Tel: 1-847-967-2400
Fax: 44-1753-224224 Fax: 65-862-4117 Fax: 55-11-3849-4511 Fax: 1-847-967-3915
1-800-SEALING
For your nearest John Crane facility, please contact one of the locations above.
If the products featured will be used in a potentially dangerous and/or hazardous process, your John Crane representative should be consulted prior to their selection and use.
In the interest of continuous development, John Crane Companies reserve the right to alter designs and specifications without prior notice. It is dangerous to smoke while handling
products made from PTFE. Old and new PTFE products must not be incinerated.
A D V A N C E D S E A L T E C H N O L O G Y
©2001 John Crane Print 10/01 www.johncrane.com ISO Certified TB-Laserface/Eng
LaserFace Technology ™

LaserFace™ is a new and innovative technology which has been developed to maximise
the performance and reliability of liquid lubricated mechanical seals. LaserFace™ enhances
seal face lubrication and minimises seal leakage under demanding operating conditions.

Why is LaserFace ™
different? Features
LaserFace™ technology combines a series of
LaserFace™ gives interface lubrication enhancement
structures on one of the seal ring components:
with control of leakage levels, delivering:
● Inlet structures generate a strong hydrodynamic
● Full seal interface lubrication even at slow speeds Figure 1 pressure force, separating the faces with a
● Vastly reduced interface friction and wear
reliable fluid film, enhancing lubrication and
● Increased seal reliability and enhanced load bearing capability reducing face wear
● Very low leakage levels, comparable to plain face seals
● Unique return structures return the interface fluid
● Adaptability to existing seal designs to the sealed fluid, significantly reducing leakage
● Bi-directional operation to atmosphere
● Operational benefits in marginal applications, ● LaserFace™ generated interface flows reduce
or where cooling flow is limited the interface running temperature, improving
seal operation

LaserFace™ is an interface groove Benefits

technology developed to enhance Fluid Mechanics (CSTEDY ) analysis of LaserFace ® ™
● Vastly reduced interface friction and wear for
face lubrication and increase groove showing hydrodynamic pressure profile.
enhanced seal performance and life
mechanical seal reliability,
primarily in poor lubricating ● Very low leakage levels for enhanced
environments, such as: environmental operation

● volatile fluids ● Exceeds conventional material limits, allowing

RETURN FLOW
Figure 2
seal faces to operate reliably at higher
DRAG FLOW ● fluids close to their boiling point
performance requirements
● where reduced friction levels 4.0

LaserFace ™ P L A I N FACE ● Exceeds industry accepted seal life for enhanced

enhance operation M E C H A N I C AL
S E AL
M E C H A N I C AL
S E AL
RETURN GROOVE mean time between planned maintenance

F R I C T I O N AL TO R Q U E ( N m )
3.0

Spring Pressure
2MPa
● Allows operation of a single seal close to the

2.0
vapour pressure with no additional cooling,
for lower cost more reliable operation

1.0 Spring Pressure

0,2MPa
● Adaptable to standard designs, allowing the
Spring Pressure 0,2MPa potential to upgrade existing installations
Spring Pressure 2MPa

0.0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 ● Bi-directional design for reliable installation
INFLOW SHAFT SPEED (rev/min)

● Higher spring loads can be employed to eliminate

INLET GROOVE Figure 2 shows LaserFace™ generating excellent seal seal face hang up without impairing seal
face lubrication at low speeds and high spring loads. performance or wear characteristics
This highlights how seal face hang up can be reduced
by increasing closing forces (spring load) without ● Reduced equipment torque and power
impairing performance when LaserFace™ is utilised. consumption for more economical operation