Will a seal wear aluminium noticeably?

[cadastrophe]

I am working on some elements of a hub which I would prefer to make out of aluminium (probably 6063) to reduce the weight of non-stressed parts. One of the items is a spacer on which a TC seal runs. Will the seal wear the aluminum? Should the aluminium be anodised to prevent wear? If so, what specification/thickness should be used?

 

[pennpoint]

cadastrophe
You have need for a seal.
Non Stressed part, in what way, how so?
What Media?
What is it sealing? Dirt, dust, or?
How dirty is the media inside,outside?
What is the temperature? Extreams?
What is the pressure? Differential?
Hard anodizing to a thickness may be difficult to reproduce part to part, batch to batch.
Suggest you specify the shaft in stainless steel, 304,316 etc...and offer your customers quality.
Somethings you cannot take a shortcut on, you got to pay the price or die.

Best Regards
pennpoint

 

[cadastrophe]

The part is a spacer between a wheel drive flange and a bearing, and is only there for the seal to run on. It just seems a pity to make it out of carbon or stainless steel and add to the unsprung weight. It will be entirely within the seal, but the whole hub will be subject to average road dirt. The loads are light and speed and temperature are not worth factoring.

 

[diamondjim]

You might be able to just use an od band.
I do thing the anodizing would help but it
is very thin and not last very long.
I can see the aluminum eating the seal away
rather than vice versa. Your seal vendor
should have some good ideas.

 

[WilliamH]

I have manufactured go-cart spindles of 6063 T-6 aluminum and pressed a thin hardened steel sleeve onto the seal area.

Cheap and effective solution. What wears the aluminum is grit in the lubricant and dust on the other side.

Will

 

[cadastrophe]

Thanks for all the responses. I particularly like the idea of pressing on something like a stainless steel Speedi Sleeve. I hadn't even thought of that, and I've used them to repair worn shafts in the past!

 

[cfkrl]

Try using the commercially available "wear sleeves" from CR(Chicago Rawhide). They are real thin and are made for this.