Slick durable seal
A sealing system having a seal engagable with a reciprocating component. The seal includes a catalytic additive that catalyzes the formation of a carbon tribolayer. The tribolayer provides for a lubricous environment while maintaining seal integrity and continued lubrication during active use (reciprocation).
1 . A method of forming a low friction wear surface comprising:
providing a seal, having a bulk material and an additive, and reciprocating component configured to slidably reciprocating thereon;
exposing the seal and reciprocating component to a hydrocarbon; and
forming a carbon tribolayer coating on one or both of the seal and the reciprocating component;
wherein the additive comprises vanadium pentoxide.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive has an average particle size of 25 μm≤100 μm.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bulk material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (“PFCTFE”), polyacrylonitrile (“PAN”), polycarbonate (“PC”), polyether etherketone (“PEEK”), polyimide (“PI”) or polyethylene (“PE”).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon comprises a Group I oil, a Group II oil, a Group III oil, a Group IV oil or a Group V oil.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the carbon tribolayer further comprises breaking down a portion of the hydrocarbon through catalytic interaction with the additive in the seal.