Metallic axial seals, also known as “Gamma Seals,” are sealing elements designed to protect bearings, radial seals, and rotating assemblies from the ingress of external contaminants. Composed of a metallic ring and an elastomeric sealing lip, they act axially on a fixed surface, creating an effective barrier against dust, dirt, water, moisture, splashes, and abrasive particles.
Thanks to their robust design, these seals not only contribute to the system’s watertightness but also protect the sealing element from mechanical damage and create a deflector effect during rotation that helps to keep contaminants away from the contact area. Therefore, they are widely used in electric motors, gearboxes, pumps, transmissions, agricultural machinery, industrial equipment, heavy vehicles, and numerous applications where bearing reliability is critical.
This type of gasket can be considered a metallic evolution of traditional V-rings/V-seals or elastomeric axial sealing rings, providing greater mechanical protection of the sealing lip and excellent resistance to harsh environments. In addition to sealing, the rotating design itself generates a deflector effect that helps expel liquids and contaminants away from the contact area.
RE and RE1 axial seals can be manufactured from various elastomeric compounds to suit the specific conditions of each application. The most common material is NBR (nitrile rubber), widely used for its excellent performance with mineral oils and greases, good wear resistance, and excellent performance-to-cost ratio. For applications subjected to high temperatures or more aggressive chemicals, they are also available in FKM (Viton®), as well as other special elastomers upon request.
The metal housing is typically made of corrosion-resistant steel, although stainless steel versions are also available for particularly humid, corrosive, or chemically exposed environments. The optimal combination of elastomer and metal material ensures the seal’s durability and performance, even under the most demanding service conditions.
At OSN Seals, we offer a wide range of RE and RE1 type axial seals for the protection of bearings, radial seals, and rotating systems. If you need to identify an existing part number, find an equivalent product from other manufacturers, or select the most suitable material for your application, our technical team will help you choose the sealing solution that best meets your needs.
