Zirconia Toughened Alumina Sealing Ring — Polished face for mechanical seals

Zirconia Toughened Alumina Ceramic Seal Rings Applications

• Advanced Powder Grinding & Milling Industry

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Wear stability — ZTA seal faces maintain Ra 0.2–0.4 μm surface finish under slurry and acid–alkali media.
  2. Impact resistance — Zirconia-toughened matrix prevents cracking from start–stop and pressure surges.
  3. Dimensional control — ID/OD tolerance ±0.05–0.10 mm ensures coaxial alignment in rotating seals.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A chemical pump manufacturer replaced SiC seal rings that failed after 6 weeks due to micro-chipping. By switching to ZTA sealing rings with controlled flatness ≤ 0.03 mm, the lifetime extended to 18 weeks, reducing downtime and seal replacement cost by 40 %.

• Water Treatment & Desalination Plants

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Chemical cleaning resistance — stable in CIP/SIP cycles up to 180 °C with chlorine-based media.
  2. Low leakage rate — lapped ZTA faces sustain uniform contact pressure over long runs.
  3. Thermal compatibility — CTE-tuned composition prevents deformation under variable flow temperature.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  An RO-pump system in a desalination facility had leakage fluctuation after frequent thermal cleaning. After adopting ZTA sealing rings (Ra 0.3 µm, flatness 0.02 mm), seal performance remained consistent for over 2,000 operating hours, eliminating post-cleaning adjustments.

• Precision Metering & Dosing Systems

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Micro-dimension accuracy — ID/OD tolerance within ±0.05 mm ensures consistent micro-flow control.
  2. Polished surface — reduces friction and wear in small piston or diaphragm mechanisms.
  3. Edge strength — C-chamfered ZTA edges prevent chipping during frequent disassembly.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  In a pharmaceutical metering unit, alumina rings caused flow drift after 300 hours. ZTA sealing rings with tuned ZrO₂ 20 vol% kept dimensional stability, extending the calibration interval to 900 hours and reducing maintenance cycles.

ZTA Ceramic Seal Ring Usage Instructions

• Install

  1. Inspect seating surfaces carefully before installation; verify ID/OD/height, flatness, and coaxiality according to the drawing.
  2. Handle each ZTA sealing ring by the outer diameter only; avoid touching or prying on polished sealing faces.
  3. Use locator steps, keys, or anti-rotation flats to ensure proper alignment; torque housings evenly to prevent skew or localized stress.
  4. Before assembly, clean the counter-face and remove all debris or old gasket material; ensure the O-ring groove is dry and free of scratches.
  5. For two-face assemblies, confirm correct rotary/stationary orientation and contact pattern prior to final tightening.

• Use

  1. For initial operation, run under recommended break-in conditions (50–60 % rated speed and pressure) for 20–30 minutes to stabilize face contact.
  2. Confirm counter-face material compatibility (SiC, graphite, or metal) and O-ring type (FKM, FFKM, PTFE) with the process medium and temperature.
  3. Monitor temperature rise during the first cycle; excessive heating indicates misalignment or improper contact pressure.
  4. In systems using abrasive slurry or corrosive media, perform periodic inspection at set intervals (e.g., 500–1000 h) to detect wear or surface scoring.
  5. For dry-run applications, use manufacturer-approved lubricants or inert purge gas during startup to reduce friction.

• Store

  1. Keep rings in dry, clean packaging, ideally in their original PE sleeves or foam compartments.
  2. Avoid direct stacking or metal-to-ceramic contact; use separators to prevent micro-abrasion.
  3. Maintain each lot label for traceability (part number, inspection ID, Ra value).
  4. Store between 10–40 °C, relative humidity below 70 %, away from vibration or corrosive vapors.

• Clean

  1. Use neutral detergent or compatible solvent based on the process medium; do not use acid-based cleaners unless verified.
  2. Avoid abrasive pads, wire brushes, or compressed air directly on the seal face.
  3. After washing, rinse with deionized water and dry with lint-free, non-woven wipes.
  4. If not installed immediately, re-bag and seal the ring in anti-dust packaging to prevent moisture absorption or contamination.
  5. Before reuse, visually inspect for surface film, residues, or micro-chips under adequate lighting.

• Cautions & Common Misuse

  1. Avoid impacting or dropping rings—micro-cracks invisible to the eye may propagate during operation and cause leakage.
  2. Do not exceed specified thermal ramp rates; heat-up/cool-down should not exceed 3–5 °C per minute to prevent thermal shock.
  3. Always remove particulates and ensure clean assembly areas; small debris trapped under the sealing face increases wear rate.
  4. When replacing seals, never mix different ceramic compositions (e.g., alumina and ZTA) within one assembly unless CTE-matched.
  5. Never reuse damaged O-rings; swelling or deformation can misalign the sealing face.

Zirconia Toughened Alumina Ceramic Seal Rings FAQ

1. Q: What sizes and tolerances can be made for Zirconia Toughened Alumina seal rings
   A: Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) seal rings are available in inner diameters from 6 mm to 120 mm, with outer diameters up to 160 mm and height defined by customer drawings. Typical machining tolerance is ±0.05–0.10 mm, and sealing face flatness can reach ≤0.03 mm after precision lapping. These ZTA seal rings can be customized with grooves, steps, or chamfers, and inspection reports are provided for dimensional verification.
2. Q: Can ZTA sealing rings replace my existing mechanical seal faces directly?
   A: Yes. By sharing your drawing, 3D model, or old part number, we can replicate geometry, chamfer, and face profile precisely for plug-in replacement.
3. Q: How does the ZrO₂ content affect the ring’s performance?
   A: Higher zirconia fraction (15–25%) increases toughness and thermal shock resistance, while lower content keeps hardness and wear rate similar to alumina.
4. Q:What are the main causes of leakage after installation?
   A: Common reasons include face misalignment, uneven torque, contaminated counter-face, or O-ring swelling; re-lapping or O-ring replacement solves most cases.
5. Q: What advantages does ZTA offer compared with alumina or SiC rings?
   A:

   Property / Feature	Alumina (Al₂O₃)	ZTA (Zirconia Toughened Alumina)	Silicon Carbide (SiC)
   Hardness (HV10)	1,700–1,800	1,400–1,600	2,200–2,500
   Fracture Toughness (MPa·m¹ᐟ²)	3–4	6–8 (Balanced)	3–4
   Flexural Strength (MPa)	300–400	550–700	450–600
   Thermal Shock Resistance	Moderate	High – resists cracking in start–stop cycles	Low to Moderate
   Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K)	25–30	15–20	100–120
   Chemical Resistance	Excellent (neutral/acidic)	Excellent – stable in acid/alkali & CIP/SIP	Excellent (broad spectrum)
   Wear Resistance	High	High, with improved edge durability	Very High
   CTE Matching with Metal Housings	Moderate	Good (tunable via ZrO₂ fraction)	Poor (risk of stress cracking)
   Impact / Shock Resistance	Low	High – zirconia phase absorbs impact energy	Low
   Surface Finish Achievable (Ra μm)	0.2–0.4	0.2–0.4 (optional ≤0.1)	0.1–0.2
   Weight / Density (g/cm³)	3.8–3.9	3.9–4.2	3.1
   Cost Level (relative)	Low	Medium	High
   Typical Use Case	General chemical pumps, static seals	Start–stop pumps, abrasive slurries, mixed media	High-speed, fully lubricated mechanical seals

   ZTA sealing rings outperform alumina in toughness, impact resistance, and crack tolerance, while maintaining comparable wear rate and chemical stability.
   Compared with SiC, ZTA offers better shock resistance and thermal compatibility with metal housings, making it ideal for pumps and valves under cycling pressure or intermittent operation.

Zirconia Toughened Alumina Ceramic Seal Rings Reviews

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  ADCERAX supported a drawing-based ZTA sealing ring replacement. Geometry and chamfer matched first time; documents were clear for our QA
  -- Sophie Keller | Procurement Manager | AquaTech Integrations (DE)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  We used critical faces to Zirconia Toughened Alumina sealing rings with Ra 0.3 μm. Leakage stabilized after break-in, and changeouts aligned with quarterly service.
  -- Daniel Ruiz | Pump Design Engineer | FlowChem Systems (US)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  For start-stop skids, the ZTA mechanical seal ring held flatness to spec. Startup chatter dropped and the team kept the planned ramp.
  -- Kenji Aoki | Reliability Lead | K-Process Solutions (JP)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Custom ZTA seal ring with locator step fit our retrofit. The surface finish target made post-install checks straightforward.
  -- Michael O’Connor | MRO Supervisor | WestRiver Utilities (UK)