TBM Consumables

We provide dedicated shield consumables for subway tunnelling projects, including tail seal grease, main bearing sealing grease, special shield grease, foaming agent, dispersant and clay shock material. These products accomplish equipment sealing, lubrication and soil conditioning, stop slurry leakage, stabilize the excavation face, lower component abrasion and secure stable, safe tunnelling construction.

TBM Consumables Manufacturer

Huadingcheng is a TBM consumables manufacturer supplying sealing greases, lubricants, soil-conditioning chemicals and shield-gap filling materials for mechanized tunneling. Our products support EPB, slurry, shield and hard-rock TBM operations in metro, railway, utility tunnel, water-transfer and underground infrastructure projects.

The product range addresses four critical areas of TBM operation: tail shield sealing, main bearing protection, equipment lubrication and ground conditioning. Huadingcheng , as China infrastructure construction chemicals supplier, working with tunneling contractors, project procurement teams, TBM operators and consumables distributors requiring stable bulk supply and application-specific product selection.

TBM Greases, Soil Conditioners and Filling Materials

Product	Function and Application
TBM Tail Seal Grease	Applied between tail seal brush rows to form a continuous barrier against groundwater, soil and backfilling grout. Pumpable and first-fill grades are available for different application methods.
TBM Main Bearing Sealing Grease	A high-viscosity sealing grease used in the main bearing labyrinth system to resist water, mud and abrasive particle ingress under pressure. It is used together with lubricating grease for combined sealing and lubrication protection.
TBM Extreme Pressure Grease	EP0, EP1 and EP2 lubricating greases for TBM gearboxes, reducers, bearings, pins and centralized lubrication points requiring load-carrying, anti-wear and corrosion protection.
EPB TBM Foaming Agent	Produces stable foam for EPB soil conditioning. It improves excavated-soil plasticity and flow while helping reduce permeability, cutterhead torque and tool wear.
TBM Anti-Clogging Agent for Clay	Penetrates and disperses cohesive clay to reduce mud-cake formation on the cutterhead, excavation chamber and screw conveyor. It can be applied independently or with a TBM foaming agent.
TBM Shield Annular Gap Filling Material	Forms a high-plasticity filling slurry for the gap between the shield body and excavated ground, helping limit ground loss and control surface settlement during TBM advance.

TBM Sealing and Main Bearing Protection

Tail Shield Sealing

Tail seal grease is injected between the wire-brush rows at the rear of a shield TBM. Together with the brushes, it creates a dynamic sealing barrier that prevents water, soil and annular grout from entering the machine.

Huadingcheng supplies different consistency grades for initial brush filling and continuous pumping during excavation. Selection should consider water pressure, shield diameter, grease-pump capacity, operating temperature and the condition of the tail brushes.

Main Bearing Sealing

The TBM main bearing requires both sealing and lubrication. The main bearing sealing grease, also called an excluder grease or main drive sealant, is used to prevent water, mud, dust and abrasive particles from entering through the labyrinth sealing system.

It should not be confused with general TBM lubricating grease. The sealing grease provides adhesion, pressure resistance and washout resistance, while EP lubricating grease protects loaded bearings and mechanical lubrication points.

Extreme-Pressure Lubrication

Our TBM EP grease series is available in NLGI 0, 1 and 2 grades for different lubrication systems and component requirements:

EP0 for centralized gearbox lubrication
EP1 for reducers and large bearings
EP2 for bearings, pins and manual grease points

Grade selection should follow the TBM manufacturer’s lubrication requirements, pumping method, operating temperature and load conditions.

EPB Soil Conditioning and Clay Control

EPB Foaming Agent

An EPB TBM foaming agent is mixed with water and compressed air to generate foam, which is injected through the cutterhead and excavation chamber. Proper soil conditioning helps create excavated material with suitable plasticity, compressibility and flow characteristics for pressure control and screw-conveyor discharge.

Foam concentration, foam expansion ratio and injection ratio should be adjusted according to soil gradation, moisture content, permeability and groundwater conditions.

Anti-Clogging Agent for Cohesive Ground

Sticky clay, mudstone and clay-rich mixed ground can adhere to cutting tools and metal surfaces, producing mud cakes and increasing cutterhead torque. A TBM anti-clogging agent modifies clay-particle interaction to reduce agglomeration and adhesion.

It may be introduced through the foam system during normal excavation or applied at a higher concentration for cleaning and dispersing existing clay accumulation.

Shield-Ground Gap Filling and Settlement Control

The shield body creates a temporary annular gap as it advances through the ground. If this void is not filled promptly, ground loss and surface settlement may occur, particularly when tunneling beneath buildings, railways, pipelines or operating metro lines.

Huadingcheng’s shield-gap filling material is mixed with water and sodium silicate through a dual-liquid injection system to form a high-viscosity plastic gel. It fills the space around the shield body and provides temporary ground support.

This product is intended for the shield-body-to-ground gap and should be distinguished from conventional backfilling grout used between the segment lining and surrounding ground.

Information Required for TBM Consumable Selection

To recommend suitable TBM chemicals and consumables, please provide:

Project Information	Selection Purpose
TBM type and diameter	Determines the sealing, injection and lubrication system
Ground geology	Identifies requirements for foam, dispersant and gap filling
Groundwater and grout pressure	Supports tail seal and main bearing sealing-grease selection
Current product or equivalent grade	Helps compare consistency and application performance
Grease pumping system	Determines the required pumpability and NLGI grade
Foam system parameters	Supports concentration and injection-ratio recommendations
Operating temperature	Confirms pumping and lubrication suitability
Estimated consumption and order quantity	Supports packaging and production planning

Our technical services team can review these operating conditions and assist with preliminary product matching.

Why Source TBM Consumables from Huadingcheng?

One product range covering sealing, lubrication, soil conditioning and gap filling
Product options for EPB, slurry, shield, hard-rock and micro-tunneling equipment
Multiple consistency and packaging options for different pumping systems
Application-oriented selection based on geology and operating parameters
Annual production capacity of more than 3,000 tons across infrastructure chemical products
Support for bulk orders, repeat project supply and technical documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between tail seal grease and main bearing sealing grease?

Tail seal grease is injected between the tail-brush rows to prevent water, soil and grout from entering the rear of the TBM. Main bearing sealing grease protects the cutterhead main-bearing labyrinth against water, mud and abrasive particles.

Is TBM main bearing sealing grease the same as EP grease?

No. Main bearing sealing grease primarily forms a protective barrier and provides washout resistance. EP grease is formulated mainly for lubrication and load-carrying performance. Some main-bearing systems require both products.

Which TBM chemical is suitable for sticky clay?

A clay anti-clogging agent is used to reduce adhesion and mud-cake formation. Depending on the soil condition, it can be combined with an EPB foaming agent to improve both soil flow and cutterhead cleanliness.

Can one foaming-agent dosage be used for every project?

No. Foam concentration and injection settings depend on soil gradation, water content, permeability, cutterhead torque and spoil behavior. Field trials and operating adjustments are normally required.

What should be included in a bulk quotation request?

Provide the TBM model, application point, current product grade, project geology, required quantity, packaging preference and destination. Technical specifications or existing equivalent products should also be included when available.

Request a TBM Consumables Proposal

If you are sourcing tunnel boring machine consumables for an active project, Huadingcheng can help compare sealing greases, lubricants, EPB soil conditioners and shield-gap filling materials according to your equipment and ground conditions.

Contact us with your TBM specifications, geology and estimated consumption to request product information and a bulk quotation.