Spring energized seals, Glyd rings, and Step Seals are widely used in hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic systems, pumps, valves, rotating equipment, and other industrial machinery. These sealing products combine polymer sealing materials with different energizing or supporting structures to provide reliable sealing under a wide range of operating conditions.

Although these products may look similar, their designs, sealing mechanisms, and application areas are different. Understanding these differences is important when selecting a suitable seal for a specific application.

What Are Spring Energized Seals?

Spring energized seals are sealing components that use a spring or metal energizer to apply continuous sealing force to the sealing lip or sealing surface.

The main sealing element is commonly manufactured from PTFE or another high-performance polymer, while the spring provides the required contact force.

A typical spring energized seal consists of:

• PTFE or polymer sealing jacket
• Metal spring energizer
• Sealing lip or contact surface

The spring compensates for changes in the sealing material and helps maintain contact with the mating surface.

Advantages of Spring Energized Seals

Spring energized seals provide several important advantages.

Excellent Low-Friction Performance

PTFE-based sealing materials offer low friction, making spring energized seals suitable for applications involving sliding or rotary movement.

Wide Temperature Range

PTFE and other high-performance polymers can operate across a broad temperature range, depending on the specific material grade.

Good Chemical Resistance

PTFE provides excellent resistance to many chemicals, oils, solvents, and aggressive media.

Reliable Sealing at Low Pressure

The spring provides additional sealing force, which can help maintain sealing performance even when system pressure is relatively low.

Long Service Life

The combination of wear-resistant polymer materials and an energizing spring can provide reliable performance in demanding dynamic applications.

Common Spring Designs

Different spring configurations are available for different operating conditions.

Common designs include:

• Helical springs
• V-shaped springs
• C-shaped springs
• Special metal energizers

The spring design affects sealing force, friction, flexibility, and pressure capability.

The correct spring material should also be selected according to the working environment.

Common spring materials may include stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys.

What Are Glyd Rings?

Glyd rings are dynamic sealing components commonly used for piston sealing in hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders.

A typical Glyd ring consists of:

• A PTFE or polymer sealing ring
• An elastomer O-ring energizer

The elastomer O-ring provides the initial radial sealing force, while the PTFE sealing ring provides the primary sliding sealing surface.

This design combines the elasticity of rubber with the low-friction and wear-resistant properties of PTFE.

Advantages of Glyd Rings

Glyd rings are popular because they provide a good balance between sealing performance and low friction.

Key advantages include:

• Low friction
• Good wear resistance
• Good chemical resistance
• Suitable for reciprocating movement
• Good dimensional stability
• Reduced stick-slip
• Suitable for hydraulic and pneumatic systems

They are commonly used where smooth piston movement and reliable pressure retention are required.

Typical Glyd Ring Applications

Glyd rings can be used in:

• Hydraulic cylinders
• Pneumatic cylinders
• Industrial actuators
• Mobile hydraulic equipment
• Automation systems
• Injection molding machinery
• Machine tools

The appropriate material grade should be selected according to pressure, temperature, fluid, speed, and cylinder design.

What Are Step Seals?

Step Seals are dynamic sealing elements commonly used for rod sealing applications.

A typical Step Seal consists of a polymer sealing ring combined with an elastomer energizer.

The polymer element provides the primary sealing surface, while the elastomer energizer maintains contact between the seal and the rod.

Step Seals are commonly manufactured using PTFE-based materials or other engineered polymers.

Advantages of Step Seals

Step Seals offer several benefits for hydraulic and pneumatic rod applications.

Low Friction

The polymer sealing element provides low friction, helping reduce resistance during rod movement.

Good Wear Resistance

Suitable PTFE compounds can provide good wear resistance during repeated reciprocating movement.

High-Pressure Capability

Step Seal designs can be suitable for high-pressure hydraulic systems when correctly selected and installed.

Good Dynamic Performance

Their design is suitable for reciprocating rods and other dynamic sealing applications.

Compact Design

Step Seals can provide effective sealing in relatively compact installation grooves.

Glyd Rings vs Step Seals

Although both products commonly use PTFE and an elastomer energizer, they are generally designed for different applications.

The actual suitability depends on the specific seal profile, material, groove design, pressure, temperature, and operating conditions.

Spring Energized Seals vs Glyd Rings and Step Seals

The main difference is the energizing mechanism and application design.

Spring energized seals use a metal spring to provide sealing force, while Glyd rings and many Step Seals typically use an elastomer energizer.

Spring energized seals are particularly useful when the application requires:

• High chemical resistance
• Broad temperature capability
• Low friction
• Low-pressure sealing
• Specialized polymer materials

Glyd rings and Step Seals are commonly selected for conventional hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder applications.

Common Materials

Material selection is critical for sealing performance.

PTFE

PTFE is one of the most widely used materials for these sealing products.

Its advantages include:

• Very low friction
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Good temperature resistance
• Low moisture absorption
• Good non-stick characteristics

Different fillers can be added to improve mechanical and wear properties.

NBR

NBR is commonly used as an energizer material because of its good oil resistance and elasticity.

It is suitable for many general hydraulic applications.

FKM

FKM provides improved resistance to high temperatures, oils, fuels, and many chemicals.

It is often selected for demanding industrial applications.

EPDM

EPDM provides excellent resistance to water, steam, weathering, and many chemicals.

It is suitable for applications involving compatible water-based fluids and environmental exposure.

The elastomer should always be selected according to the working medium and temperature.

How to Select the Right Sealing Product

Choosing between spring energized seals, Glyd rings, and Step Seals requires a detailed evaluation of the application.

1. Application Type

Determine whether the seal is required for:

• Piston sealing
• Rod sealing
• Rotary sealing
• Static sealing
• Reciprocating sealing

This is the first step in identifying the correct profile.

2. Pressure

The maximum operating pressure should be considered together with:

• Seal profile
• Material
• Extrusion gap
• Hardware dimensions

For high-pressure applications, the complete sealing system must be evaluated rather than considering the seal material alone.

3. Temperature

Operating temperature can affect both the polymer and elastomer components.

Consider:

• Minimum temperature
• Normal operating temperature
• Maximum continuous temperature
• Temporary temperature peaks

4. Working Medium

Common media include:

• Hydraulic oil
• Lubricating oil
• Water
• Air
• Steam
• Fuels
• Chemicals

Material compatibility should be verified before selecting the seal.

5. Speed

Reciprocating speed and rotary speed can significantly affect friction and heat generation.

High-speed applications may require specialized PTFE compounds and optimized sealing profiles.

6. Groove Dimensions

Correct installation dimensions are essential.

Important parameters include:

• Groove diameter
• Groove width
• Groove depth
• Rod diameter
• Bore diameter
• Installation clearance

A seal should always be selected based on the actual installation geometry.

Standard Sizes and Custom Sealing Products

Many spring energized seals, Glyd rings, and Step Seals are available in standard market sizes.

Standard products can provide:

• Shorter delivery times
• Lower tooling requirements
• Easy replacement
• Cost-effective maintenance

However, some applications require non-standard dimensions or special materials.

Custom sealing products can be manufactured according to:

• Technical drawings
• Physical samples
• OEM specifications
• Special operating conditions
• Customer-defined dimensions

This allows the sealing solution to be adapted to specific equipment.

Industrial Applications

These sealing products are used across a wide range of industries.

Hydraulic Cylinders

Glyd rings and Step Seals are commonly used in hydraulic cylinders for piston and rod sealing.

Pneumatic Systems

Low-friction polymer seals can improve the movement efficiency of pneumatic cylinders and actuators.

Pumps and Valves

Spring energized seals can be used in selected pump and valve applications where chemical resistance, temperature resistance, and low friction are important.

Industrial Automation

Precision polymer seals are used in automation cylinders, actuators, and other moving equipment.

Chemical Equipment

Spring energized PTFE seals can be useful where chemical compatibility is a major consideration.

Quality and Manufacturing Considerations

Reliable sealing performance depends on more than material selection.

Important manufacturing factors include:

• Accurate seal dimensions
• Consistent material quality
• Controlled sealing lip geometry
• Correct spring dimensions
• Proper surface finish
• Groove compatibility
• Inspection of finished products

For custom PTFE seals, precision machining can be particularly important because the sealing profile and dimensional accuracy directly affect installation and performance.

Conclusion

Spring energized seals, Glyd rings, and Step Seals are important standard sealing products for hydraulic, pneumatic, industrial, and specialized equipment.

Spring energized seals use a metal spring to maintain sealing force and are particularly useful for applications requiring low friction, chemical resistance, temperature resistance, or reliable sealing under varying pressure conditions.

Glyd rings are commonly used for piston sealing, combining a PTFE sealing ring with an elastomer energizer.

Step Seals are widely used for rod sealing and provide low-friction dynamic sealing for hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders.

By considering application type, pressure, temperature, working medium, speed, material compatibility, and groove dimensions, users can select the most suitable sealing product. In addition to standard market sizes, professional manufacturers can provide non-standard spring energized seals, Glyd rings, Step Seals, and other PTFE sealing products according to drawings, samples, and OEM requirements.