Vanes & Rotorsfor Vacuum Pumps
Carbon graphite and phenolic vanes for every major rotary vane brand. Becker VT/VTLF, Busch R5 RA, Edwards E2M and RV, Leybold TRIVAC and SOGEVAC, Pfeiffer DuoLine and Pascal, plus complete vane sets for legacy pumps. Next-day UK delivery on continuous-stock items.
Vacuum pump vanes are sliding sealing blades — typically carbon graphite (for dry pumps) or phenolic resin (for oil-sealed pumps) — that ride against the inside of the pump cylinder and form the chambers that compress and expel gas.
What's included in vanes & rotors
- Carbon graphite vanes — used in oil-less / dry rotary vane pumps (Becker VT, Busch Mink dry-vane, Elmo Rietschle V-VCB). Self-lubricating, no oil required.
- Phenolic resin vanes — used in oil-sealed rotary vane pumps (Edwards E2M, Leybold TRIVAC, Pfeiffer Pascal, Busch R5). Run in pump oil, longer life than carbon at higher load.
- Vane sets — typically 3 to 5 individual blades per pump, supplied as a matched set
- Rotors — the central rotating element that holds the vanes; usually only replaced if the vane slot is worn beyond service limit
When should vanes & rotors be replaced?
Vane wear at scheduled hour interval
Carbon vanes typically last 8,000–15,000 hours; phenolic vanes 10,000–16,000 hours, depending on duty. Scheduled replacement is preferable to letting them break.
Reduced pumping speed or worse ultimate vacuum
Worn vanes cause leakage between chambers, reducing the pump's compression ratio. Catching it early prevents cylinder damage.
Audible knocking or rough running
Indicates a vane has chipped, broken, or stuck. Stop the pump immediately and inspect — running on broken vanes can score the cylinder bore.
After a process upset (solvent, water slug, particulate)
Contamination can cause carbonisation in the vane slots. Per Busch's R5 manual, if the slot is V-shaped or the gap exceeds 0.3 mm, the rotor itself must be replaced — not just the vanes.
How to spot a problem
- Reduced ultimate vacuum on a known-good gauge
- Slower evacuation cycle on the same chamber
- Audible squeal, knock, or rougher running
- Visible chipping, hairline cracks, or scoring on the vane edges (on inspection)
- Vane stuck in rotor slot — common with overdue oil changes
Vanes & Rotors by manufacturer
Becker
Carbon graphite vane sets for VT, VX, VTLF, VXLF, KVT, KVX. VT 4.25 and VTLF 2.250 are continuous stock items.
Busch
Phenolic vane sets for the entire R5 RA, RC, and RD range from RA 0010 F up to RA 1600 D. Genuine and OEM-equivalent options.
Edwards
Phenolic vanes for E2M (E2M28/40/80), RV (RV3/5/8/12), and legacy 1-stage pumps.
Leybold
Vanes for TRIVAC B (D4B–D65B), TRIVAC L, and SOGEVAC B (SV10–SV300).
Pfeiffer / Adixen
Phenolic vanes for DuoLine, HenaLine, and Pascal SD/C1/C2 series.
Elmo Rietschle
Carbon vane sets for V-VC, V-VCB, V-VCE, plus legacy CLF, KTA, and KTC pumps.
Need vanes & rotors?
Tell us your pump model, part number, or just describe the symptom — we aim to come back within 24 hours with a quote and confirmed lead time.