The Mechanics of Metal Seal Formation

Tribology is the study of friction, lubrication, and wear. Formally defined, it is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion.

A face seal fitting that transfers torque to the sealing surfaces during the compression that creates the seal, has a fundamental flaw.

A tribological study of metal seals shows that this rotation during compression causes the sealing surfaces to gall each other and generate particles. This rotation also causes wind-up in the attached tubing or components and causes the fitting to loosen during shock and vibration.

Eliminating torque from metal seal formation, allowing pure compression, creates tighter fittings without particle generation. This decreases process tool pump down, leak-check, and qualification time and enables increased yield for the most advanced chip geometries.

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