A seal is a device or material that helps join systems, mechanisms or other materials together by preventing leakage (e.g. in a pumping system), containing pressure, or excluding contamination.
The effectiveness of a seal is dependent on adhesion in the case of sealants and compression in the case of gaskets.
The seals are installed in pumps in a wide range of industries including chemicals, water supply, paper production, food processing and many other applications.
[1] A stationary seal may also be referred to as a 'packing'.
Seal types: This article about a mechanical engineering topic is a stub.