Radial Bearing Shaft Seals – EC and CE
The EC and CE are specially developed bearing seals with the same construction as the proven AS and SA seals, but manufactured from a high-quality elastomer that offers an exceptionally wide temperature range and excellent flexibility at low temperatures. This makes these seals ideal for extreme temperature conditions and food-safe applications. Like the AS and SA, the EC and CE seals are mirror images of each other.
The seals consist of a food-safe sealing lip, a metal housing, a stainless steel (SS) garter spring, and an external dust lip.
EC & CE Seal Specifications
- Temperature range: Resistant to temperatures from -60°C to +200°C.
- Speed: Suitable for shaft speeds up to 10 m/s.
- Misalignment: Suitable for a misalignment of approximately 3° (for shaft diameters up to 100 mm).
- Construction: Equipped with a stainless steel garter spring for optimal tension.
- Food safety: Suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications (FDA approved).
When to Choose EC/CE Instead of AS/SA?
- The ambient temperature is very low (down to -60°C) or higher than 90°C.
- Food safety or FDA approval is required.
- An odourless and tasteless seal is needed, for example in the food or beverage industry.
- Exposure to ozone and UV radiation is a factor.
The EC Seal
The EC seal, like the AS seal, is pressure-tight. The pressure of the lubricating grease pushes the sealing lip more tightly against the shaft. This means the bearing cannot be re-greased through the seal.
Application of the EC Seal:
- Must be used in combination with a CS or CC seal, or as an EC-EC / EC-VK configuration.
- Suitable for environments without abrasive contamination.
- Perfect for fully closing a bearing housing into a maintenance-free unit.
Mounting tip
During initial greasing, it is necessary to keep the cap slightly open to allow trapped air to escape.
The CE Seal
The CE seal is the mirror image of the EC seal and is mounted on the opposite side of the bearing housing. It shares all the same material properties — the wide temperature range (-60°C to +200°C), FDA-approved food safety, and excellent flexibility at extreme temperatures.
What These Seals Resist – Silicone (EC / CE Seals)
The list below shows the chemicals, fluids and gases against which the VMQ silicone sealing element of EC and CE seals is reliably resistant. A check mark in a temperature column means the seal can handle that medium at that temperature. Empty cells indicate that the medium is not recommended at that temperature.
Indicative values based on industry compatibility charts (Parker O-Ring Handbook, Trelleborg, ERIKS). The end user is responsible for validating suitability for their specific application — concentration, pressure, mechanical stress and exposure time matter. When in doubt, contact Extreme Bearing for a tailored recommendation.
| Chemical | 20°C / 68°F | 60°C / 140°F | 100°C / 212°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formaldehyde (40%) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Acetic acid (10%) | ✓ | ||
| Ascorbic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Citric acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fatty acids (>C6) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lactic acid (90%) | ✓ | ||
| Oxalic acid | ✓ | ||
| Phthalic acid | ✓ | ||
| Stearic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Tannic acid (10%) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Tartaric acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Vinegar | ✓ | ||
| Boric acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Carbonic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Phosphoric acid (20%) | ✓ | ||
| Silicic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sulphites | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ammonia, anhydrous | ✓ | ||
| Ammonia, aqueous | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Caustic soda & potash | ✓ | ||
| Lime (CaO) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Alum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aluminium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aluminium sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ammonium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brines, saturated | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bromide (K) solution | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Calcium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chlorates of Na, K, Ba | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Chlorides of Na, K, Ba | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copper salts (most) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ferric chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ferrous sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead acetate | ✓ | ||
| Mercuric chloride | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mercury | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nickel salts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrates of Na, K and NH3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrite (Na) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Silver nitrate | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sodium carbonate | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sodium silicate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sodium sulphide | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Stannic chloride | ✓ | ||
| Sulphates (Na, K, Mg, Ca) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zinc chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oils, vegetable and animal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Alcohols | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Methanol | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Glycerine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glycols | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Glycol, ethylene | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Acetylene | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ozone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sulphur | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sulphur dioxide, dry | ✓ | ||
| Water, distilled | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water, soft | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water, hard | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sea water | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moist air | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fruit juices | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Gelatine | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Meat juices | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Milk products | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Molasses | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Starch | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sugar, syrups & jams | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Tallow | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Urea (30%) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Yeast | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Detergents, synthetic | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Silicone fluids | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Wetting agents (<5%) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ethanol | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Isopropanol (IPA) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Propylene glycol | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water/glycol coolant | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hydraulic fluid HFC (water-glycol) | ✓ | ||
| AdBlue (urea solution 32.5%) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Silicone grease | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hot air | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compressed air, dry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrogen (N2) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oxygen (O2) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hydrogen (H2) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Helium (He) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Argon (Ar) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerant R717 (ammonia) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Refrigerant R744 (CO2) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ozone (atmospheric, weathering) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| UV / sunlight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wine | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Coffee / tea | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Vegetable juice | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CIP cleaner, alkaline (1-3%) | ✓ | ||
| Ozone in water (water treatment) | ✓ | ||
| Butanol (n-butanol) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| n-Propanol | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oleic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Palmitic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Adipic acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Lauric acid | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ammonium sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ammonium nitrate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copper sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zinc sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Magnesium sulphate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Magnesium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Barium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Potassium chloride | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sodium thiosulphate | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrous oxide (N2O) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Silane (SiH4) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Olive oil | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Soybean oil | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Palm oil | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Rapeseed (canola) oil | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fish oil | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Butter | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cheese curds / whey | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Eggs (raw / liquid) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mustard | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Liquid sugar / glucose syrup | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Chlorhexidine solution | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Drilling mud (water-based) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cement slurry | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fly ash slurry | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cyanide solution (gold mining, NaCN) | ✓ |
Not suitable for abrasive environments
The EC and CE seals, like the AS and SA, are not suitable for applications where there is a risk of contamination from abrasive materials. For this type of application, use our CS design.