What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the tribological performance of mechanical face seals in conditions simulating the Martian environment.

April 16, 2026Scientific Reports0 citationsOpen Access

Tribological performance of mechanical face seals for Martian applications

PKPéter Marcell KissMagyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem GKGábor KalácskaMagyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem RKRóbert KeresztesMagyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the tribological performance of mechanical face seals in conditions simulating the Martian environment.
Examined dry-running mechanical face seals with graphite and silicon carbide components.
Tested under varying contact pressures from 0.23 to 0.83 MPa.
Applied three preload levels: zero, nominal, and double preload, along with a Martian regolith simulant.
Fractal torque increased with preload: 0.017 Nm (SP0) to 0.070 Nm (SP2) under clean conditions.
Torque rose significantly in the presence of regolith: 0.064 Nm (SP0MGS-1) to 0.095 Nm (SP2MGS-1).
Higher contact pressure increased wear while ensuring interface conformity, with SEM revealing abrasion on the graphite ring.

Abstract

This study examines the tribological performance of dry-running mechanical face seals composed of a graphite rotating ring and a silicon carbide stationary ring under varying contact pressure conditions from 0.23 to 0.83 MPa), both in clean operation and in the presence of a Martian regolith simulant (MGS-1, PR < 80 μm). Three preload levels were applied: zero preload (SP0), nominal preload (SP1), and double preload (SP2), based on a calibrated spring characteristic and contact area analysis. Under clean conditions, increasing preload elevated frictional torque from ~ 0.017 Nm (SP0) to ~ 0.030 Nm (SP1) and ~ 0.070 Nm (SP2), indicating a direct correlation between contact pressure and interfacial shear. When MGS-1 regolith simulant was introduced, torque increased significantly in all configurations, reaching ~ 0.064 Nm (SP0MGS-1), ~ 0.082 Nm (SP1MGS-1), and ~ 0.095 Nm (SP2MGS-1). Real-time monitoring of torque and axial force enabled the calculation of dynamic friction forces and coefficients of friction, which revealed that contact pressure strongly influenced wear mechanisms: higher contact pressure enhanced interface conformity but accelerated abrasive degradation, while lower contact pressure reduced wear at the expense of sealing pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the presence of abrasive grooves and embedded particles exclusively on the graphite ring, with no perceivable damage on the SiC counterface. The results demonstrate that nominal contact pressure (SP1) provides the most favorable balance between friction stability, wear resistance, and sealing reliability, offering valuable insights for the design of mechanical seals in particulate-laden environments such as Martian surface operations.

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