JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

To assist our customers in identifying John Crane products, John Crane Inc has developed a Seal Identification
Coding schema, which uniquely defines the major components of the seal specific to their materials of construction. In
so doing this allows for easy identification of products to application requirements. It should be noted that the seal
identification coding schema is not designed to identify every component of the seal but only those components critical
to a successful sealing applications. Over the years the John Crane Seal Identification Coding schema has been
enhanced and expanded to accommodate new products and improve understanding. Under that context this document
is offered to explain and clarify the John Crane Inc. Seal Identification Coding schema.
The new John Crane Seal Identification Coding schema consists of seven (7) fields. Each field defines a major seal
component or grouping of components. Position of these fields is critical to seal identification. Therefore, the Seal
Identification Coding schema is a positional coding schema. Each field is defined by a position and given a naming
convention of 1st Symbol through 7th Symbol. Alpha, numeric or alphanumeric coding symbols have been established
st
th
to define the primary materials supplied for John Crane mechanical seal products. Fields 1 Symbol through 6 Symbol
are populated using the appropriate material coding symbol for the component or grouping of components defined by
the field which are supplied as part of the product. To maintain this positional coding schema a dash - is inserted into
any position in which the item defined by that position is not supplied as part of the mechanical seal. A listing of the most
popular material coding symbols is provided within this documentation. It should be noted that this coding schema is
used to define mechanical seal assemblies only and does not extend to other John Crane products. It is used to define
various mechanical seal related assemblies such as mating ring assemblies, hardware assemblies, seal head
assemblies and seal assemblies. Mating ring assemblies, probably being the simplest, consist of the mating ring with its
secondary sealing element(s). Hardware assemblies are typically a grouping of the seal assembly hardware items. Seal
head assemblies are the seal heads themselves less mating ring assemblies and less equipment adaptive hardware.
Seal assemblies typically fall into two categories. Either the seal head assembly complete with an applicable mating ring
assembly or complete seals that include the seal head assembly, mating ring assembly and equipment adaptive
hardware. The later includes complete seal assemblies, cartridge seal assemblies and package seal assemblies.
Though equipment adaptive hardware items such as gland plates, sleeves and collars may be included with the product,
this coding schema does not define the equipment adaptive hardware.
For double, dual and tandem seal arrangements the seal closest to or in the product being handled is defined as the
inboard seal assembly while the seal farthest from the product is defined as the outboard seal assembly. Single seals
will have one set of information while double, dual and tandem seals will reflect two sets of information one for each
seal. Two sets of materials should be shown even if the inboard and outboard materials are identical. In the pictorial
st
th
representation each field is labeled 1 Symbol through the 7 Symbol. A further definition of the field and its use is
provided here.

1st Symbol
The first symbol defines the secondary seal used in conjunction with the seal head assembly primary ring. The symbol used
defines the sealing element only. Anti-extrusion rings, support rings, cove ring, shields, etc. are NOT defined by this code.
The bellows for metal bellows seals traditionally defined in this position has been moved to the sixth symbol, labeled
Loading Device.

OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

Type 8B1 with Fluorocarbon O-ring and Chemlon anti-extrusion ring

X/Q

Type 9 with Chemlon wedge and o-ring expander

Q/X

Type 20R with Glass-Filled Chemlon/Chemlon Bellows

Q/V

1/O28

O28

Metal Bellows seal with Alloy 20 bellows and Cranelast O-ring

Page 1 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

2nd Symbol
The second symbol defines the seal primary ring material. Traditionally, most primary rings are made up of a single material.
The primary ring-coding symbol defines either a family material or a very specific face material. As the primary ring is the
primary sealing element of the seal, this symbol only concerns itself with the primary ring material. When the primary ring is
an insert pressed into an adaptor, as in the case of metal bellows seals, the insert is the only component defined by this
symbol.
OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

Type 1 with general carbon material

F50

F50

Type 670 metal bellows seal with tungsten carbide insert

D/1

Type 9 with carbon insert in 316 SS primary ring adaptor

316/F51

F51

3rd Symbol
The third symbol defines the hardware items for the seal assembly. It does not include the equipment adaptive hardware
such as glands, sleeves or collars used to fit the seal to the equipment. The term hardware relates to the major components
of the seal assembly such as the retainer for type 1, 2, 21, 8 & 9 seals, drive sleeve for type 6 & 6A seals and front adapters
for metal bellows seals. When the metallurgy of these items is not specific, such as 1 for stainless steel, the seventh field
is used to clarify the specific grade of stainless. Reference field seven for further information.

Type 1 with stainless steel retainer and brass for all other
items such as disc, drive band, spring holder
Type 1 with all stainless steel metal parts
Type 609 metal bellows seal with Hastelloy bellows,
Alloy 42 front adapter, 347 SS back adapter

OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

1/2

H/1

O103

4th Symbol
The fourth symbol defines the secondary sealing element used in conjunction with the mating ring. As with the first field, it
defines only the sealing element. PTFE cove rings, anti-extrusion rings, etc. are NOT defined by this code. O-rings, gaskets,
spiral-wound gaskets, Cranefoil rings and rubber cups are examples of mating ring secondary sealing elements. Clamped-in
mating rings traditionally use two gaskets of different materials. Only the gasket in contact with the product is to be defined.

Cove o-ring mating ring with Chemlon cove ring and

Fluorocarbon o-ring
Clamped mating ring with one Chemlon and one fiber gasket
Floating mating ring with Cranefoil ring

Page 2 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

X/Q

Q/O43

O50

O50

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

5th Symbol
The fifth symbol defines the material for the mating ring. The same rules apply as with the primary ring.

6th Symbol
The sixth symbol defines the material of the loading device. This is typically the spring for most traditional seals, with the
exception of metal bellows seals in which the bellows acts as both a sealing element and a loading device. Since metal
bellows seals incorporate a secondary sealing element such as a metal wedge, Cranefoil ring or o-ring to seal the shaft
and because the bellows acts as the primary loading device, it has been moved to this field.

Type 9 seal with Hastelloy C springs

Type 609 metal bellows seal with Hastelloy bellows

OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

HC

7th Symbol
rd

th

Defines more specifically the metallurgy used for the hardware items (3 symbol) and the loading device (6 symbol).
This information is required as the codes used for these fields are generic. Therefore, because they are not specific, they
must be further defined to distinguish the specific material grades. For example 1 defines stainless steel, however there
are multiple stainless steel grades that can be used such as 304 SS, 18-8 SS, 302 SS, 316 SS. The same is true for H,
which is used for Hastelloy. Here too, there are multiple grades of Hastelloy such as Hastelloy C-276, Hastelloy B &
th
Hastelloy G. To insure consistency of metallurgy, both positions must be defined with this 7 symbol. The two metallurgy
rd
definitions are separated by a slash (/) as shown below. If the seal is not supplied with a component defined by the 3
th
th
and/or 6 position, a dash (-) shall be inserted in the 7 field position for the absent component. Listed below is an
example of this case. A listing of the most popular metallurgies and the associated abbreviation is provided within this
documentation

Type 1 seal with 316 SS spring and brass hardware

Type ECS metal bellows seal with Alloy 42 front adapter,
AM-350 bellows, 347 SS back adapter
Type 9 seal with Hastelloy C retainer and springs
Type 37FS seal with 316 SS hardware and no springs

Page 3 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

OLD METHOD

NEW METHOD

2-1

BRASS/316

42/350/347

A42/350

HC/HC

HC/HC

316

316/-

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

Code Sequences
John Crane Seal Identification Codes designate the primary component materials used in seal manufacturing. The
sequential order of the code numbers and letters has specific meaning.

1st Symbol

2nd Symbol

3rd Symbol

4th Symbol

5th Symbol

6th Symbol

7th Symbol

Primary Ring
Secondary
Seal

Primary Ring

Hardware

Mating Ring
Secondary
Seal

Mating Ring

Loading
Device

Metallurgy

PUSHER TYPE SEALS

Code in sequential order:

F51

316/316

QF511QC1 316/316

Simply written:

Q F51

NON-PUSHER TYPE SEALS

Code in sequential order:
Simply written:

F50

2 B

1 BRASS/18-8

BF502B71 BRASS/18-8
B

Page 4 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

F50

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

PUSHER TYPE SEALS

Code in sequential order:
Simply written:

F31

A20/HC

XF311Q7H A20/HC
H

F31

METAL BELLOWS TYPE SEALS

Code in sequential order:
Simply written:

X F3

O42

X O8

O104

17-4/350

XF3O42XO8O104 17-4/350
O42

Page 5 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

O104

F3

O8

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

Special Notations
Parentheses ( )
nd

th

When used in connection with the 2 and 5 symbols for

primary rings and mating rings, parentheses indicate that
the primary ring or mating ring has a coating or coated face.
The symbol inside the parentheses indicates the base material.

XF511X(1)H 316/HC
316 SS MATING RING WITH
A COATING OR COATED FACE

Subscript Numbers or Index Numbers

When used together with the general material symbol, subscript
numbers designate a more specific material classification.
F51
O10
B2

A specific carbon family grade engineered for a defined

service application.
A ceramic material with a high level of purity.
A specific nitrile (Buna-N) material that meets UL approvals.

Since most electronic business systems do not support subscripts

they are simply typed as standard text. i.e. F51, O10, B2, etc.

Slash Line /
th

Commonly used today in connection with the 7 symbol to segregate

rd
the materials of the seal hardware 3 symbol verses the material
th
for the loading device 6 symbol. The loading device for most
mechanical seals will be the spring(s). For metal bellows seals the
loading device is defined as the bellows. Additionally, even if a more standard
th
material is supplied such as brass (2), it is still defined in this 7 symbol as
(BRASS/316).

Dash
A dash inserted in place of any material code indicates the absence
of that specific component for the item being supplied. If the hardware or
loading device is not supplied, a dash (-) is used in its place in the
th
7 symbol as well.

Notation for Multiple Seals

A notation identifying the inboard verses the outboard seal codes
would be found to the right of the codes in parentheses. Circulating
buffer liquids will be shown elsewhere on the seal layout drawing.

Note:
The above symbols have specific meanings. Incorrect use of a
symbol may change the meaning of the entire code.

Page 6 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

XF511XO58H 316/HC
SEAL HARDWARE ITEMS IN 316 S.S
WITH A HASTELLOY C SPRING

XF511--1 316/316
CODE FOR A SEAL SUPPLIED
WITHOUT A MATING RING
AND SECONDARY SEAL

O78O921O78O92- 316/SEAL HARDWARE ITEMS IN 316 S.S

316/HC
WITH NO SPRING

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

Pictorial Description of a John Crane Material Code

1ST SYMBOL

2ND SYMBOL

SECONDARY
SEAL FOR
PRIMARY RING
Bellows

3RD SYMBOL

4TH SYMBOL

HARDWARE

SECONDARY
SEAL FOR
MATING RING

PRIMARY
RING

Types 1 & 2

Types 1, 2 & 21

Types 1, 2 & 21

O-ring

Types 8 & 48

Type 8

Types 8 & 9

Wedge

Type 9

Type 48

Metal Bellows Seals

Bellows

Type 21

Type 9

Compression
Rings

Type 37

O-ring

Mating Ring Gaskets

5TH SYMBOL
MATING
RING
O-ring

Square Section

Floating

Cup-Mounted

Clamped-In

Metal Bellows Insert

Modified Clamped-In
PTFE Bellows

Type 20

Metal Bellows
Wedge

O-ring

Pinned O-ring

Grafoil Ring

NOTE:
SEAL EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE HARDWARE, SUCH AS GLANDS, SLEEVES, COLLARS,
PINS, SCREWS, ETC., ARE NOT DEFINED BY THIS CODE SYSTEM.
Gland
Plate

Page 7 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

Sleeve & Collar

Collars, Rings,
Pins, Screws

6TH SYMBOL
LOADING
DEVICE
Multiple Coil

Single Coil

Single Wave

Multiple Wave

Double Metal Bellows

Welded Metal Bellows

Formed Metal Bellows

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

COMMON SYMBOLS

SYMBOL
B
B93
C
D
D95
D96
F
F3
F5
F6
F12
F28
F31
F32
F35
F40
F48
F50
F51
F55
F60
F77
H
J
M
N
O
O8
O10
O15
O28
O31
O35
O37
O39
O40
O42
O43
O50
O54
O55
O58
O60
O72
O78
O92
O95
O103
O104
P90

MATERIAL
BUNAN
LOW TEMPERATURE BUNAN
CERAMIC
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE w/COBALT BINDER
SILICON CARBIDE w/GRAPHITE
SILICON CARBIDE w/GRAPHITE
CARBON
CARBON HEAT TRANSFER
CARBON NUCLEAR
CARBON FOOD
CARBON HOT WATER
CARBON GAS SEAL
CARBON CHEMICAL
CARBON DRY-RUNNING
CARBON REFRIGERATION
CARBON AUTOMOTIVE
CARBON HP HYDROCARBON
CARBON COMMERCIAL
CARBON GENERAL
CARBON SEVERE DUTY
CARBON LIGHT DUTY GAS SEAL
CARBON DRY-RUNNING
HASTELLOY
SILICONE
MONEL
NEOPRENE
SPECIAL MATERIALS
REACTION BONDED SILICON CARBIDE
HIGH PURITY CERAMIC
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE w/NICKEL BINDER
CRANELAST* (EPDM)
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE
DAIRY BRONZE
TITANIUM
CRANEFOIL*
CRANELAST* NUCLEAR SERVICE
17-4 PH
STYLE 888 SHEET PACKING
WIRE REINFORCED CRANEFOIL*
CRANELAST* FOOD SERVICE
TFE ENCAPSULATED VITON**
SELF-SINTERED SILICON CARBIDE
SPIRAL WOUND GASKETS
ALLOY 718
EPDM
SILICON CARBIDE w/GRAPHITE FAMILY
REACTION BONDED SILICON CARBIDE
ALLOY 42
AM-350 S.S.
SILICONIZED GRAPHITE

SYMBOL

MATERIAL

Q
S
V
X
X51
X5
X48
X30
X28
X18
X14

CHEMLON* TFE
TOOL STEEL
GLASS FILLED CHEMLON* - TFE
VITON** OR EQUAL
ISOLAST
KALREZ**
PERFLUOROELASTOMER FAMILY
CHEMRAZ
VITON** GAS SEAL SERVICE
AFLAS
KALREZ**

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

STAINLESS STEEL
BRASS
PHOSPHOR BRONZE
BRONZE, 83-7-7-3
HIGH LEAD BRONZE
CAST IRON
NI-RESIST
PLATED STEEL
STELLITE OR EQUAL

JOHN CRANE, INC. COMPANY TRADENAME

** DUPONT TRADE NAME
+ ALL SYMBOLS ARE FOR COMMERCIAL GRADE MATERIALS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Page 8 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003

JOHN CRANE SEAL IDENTIFICATION CODING

COMMON METALLURGIES 7th FIELD

ABBREVIATIONS
SYMBOL

METALLURGY

ABBREVIATION

O42
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
O103
1
O
O104
1
2
4
1
1
H
H
H
H
H
O93
1
O72
O65
M
M
M
O
8
1
O
O37
O

17-4 PH S.S.
17-7 PH S.S.
18-8 S.S
254 SMO
25-6MO
301 S.S.
302 S.S.
303 S.S.
304 S.S.
304L S.S.
305 S.S.
316 S.S.
316L S.S.
317 S.S.
317L S.S.
347 S.S.
410 S.S.
420 S.S.
904L S.S.
ALLOY 20CB3 S.S.
ALLOY 42
ALLOY 611
ALUMINUM
AM-350 S.S.
AM-355 S.S.
BRASS
BRONZE
DUPLEX S.S.
FERRALIUM
HASTELLOY B
HASTELLOY B-3
HASTELLOY C
HASTELLOY C-22
HASTELLOY G-30
INCONEL 600
INCONEL 625
INCONEL 718
INCONEL X-750
MONEL
MONEL 400
MONEL K-500
NICKEL
PLATED STEEL
STAINLESS STEEL
TANTALUM
TITANIUM
ZIRCONIUM

17-4
17-7
18-8
254
25-6
301
302
303
304
304L
305
316
316L
317
317L
347
410
420
904L
A20
A42
611
ALMN
350
355
BRASS
BRNZ
DPLX
FRLM
HB
HB3
HC
HC22
HG30
600
625
718
X-750
MONEL
M400
K500
NCKL
STEEL
SS
TANTM
TITNM
ZIRNM

Page 9 of 9 Revised 06-03-2003