Seals will inevitably wear in dynamic applications, but with appropriate design considerations, this can be minimized. The wear pattern should be even and consistent around the circumference of the dynamic lip. A small amount of even wear will not drastically affect seal performance; however, if the wear patterns are uneven or grooved, or if the amount of wear is excessive, performance may be dramatically reduced. There are many factors that influence seal wear, many of which are described in the following Table 2-5.

Seal wear may be indicated by flattening out of the contact point, or, in extreme circumstances, may appear along the entire dynamic surface as shown in Figure 2-6.