EVALUATION OF TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SEALS RUNNING IN CONTACT WITH VEGETABLE OIL

The article describes the results of the measurement to evaluate the operation characteristic of o-ring seals in case of the operation with vegetable oils. The measurements were made on the model of a sealing node in hydraulic cylinder, where the round cross section seal cooperated with the piston rod. The changes of the friction force during rod movement resulting from the friction between the seal and the rod were analysed. The tests were carried out with two vegetable oils mostly used in industry: rape oil and soybean oil. The products based on vegetable oils can be an alternative to products made on the basis of petroleum. However, vegetable oils are characterized by other properties than mineral oils. The physical and chemical properties of vegetable oils depend on the composition of the fatty acid mixture. The observation of the influence of the occurrence of oxidative gelation on friction force was also conducted. In case of vegetable oils, oxypolymerization tendencies of these fluids are a very significant factor, which can influence the characteristics of friction nodes operation.