ESA member company Clifford Springs explains why sealing performance is less about maximum force at installation and more about maintaining consistent force throughout a seal’s working life.
It is natural to assume that more force must mean a better seal. But after 80 years of manufacturing springs, at Clifford Springs we look at force slightly differently.
In reality, sealing performance tends to be less about the intensity of the force when the seal is first installed, and more about how consistently the force is maintained throughout the working life of the seal.
Many seals don't operate in a static environment. Components wear. Materials relax and degrade. Temperatures fluctuate. Pressures cycle. Manufacturing tolerances begin to influence performance. As these conditions change, so does the contact force between the seal and its mating surface.
If the force reduces too quickly, there’s a higher risk of leaks. If the force is too high, friction rises, wear accelerates and the seal life may actually be shortened. It’s not about maximising force - it's about controlling it.
This is why the energising spring is such an important component.
One of the most common conversations we have with customers is about force behaviour rather than force itself. Engineers may request a higher load, when the real goal is a more consistent one. That's where understanding how different spring geometries behave becomes invaluable.
Some spring designs provide high initial loads but lose force more rapidly as they deflect. Others maintain their characteristics over a much wider working range. As one of only a handful of manufacturers worldwide producing canted coil springs, we've seen first-hand how a near-constant force profile can improve sealing performance by maintaining consistent sealing force as wear occurs, rather than relying on excessive installation loads.
There’s no one single spring that is right for every application. At Clifford Springs we are always happy to work with engineers and spring designers to identify which spring type, geometry and material will deliver the best performance for the application it’s to be installed in. The best sealing solutions come from understanding the complete system - operating conditions, movement, materials, expected service life and, crucially, how the spring will behave in the different environments.
That's why we enjoy working with seal designers at the earliest stages of development. Sharing our expertise and knowledge of spring behaviour contributes to solutions that can be more reliable, more efficient and longer lasting.
If you’ve got questions about making your spring energised seal the most effective it can be in the application you’re designing it for, just get in touch. We’re always happy to talk energising springs!