Method of processing seals like leaf seals

A method of processing seals, in which seals an annular gap formed between two coaxial, cylindrical surfaces is sealed off in the axial direction by a multiplicity of individual, thin sealing elements which, with an orientation deviating from the radial direction, extend transversely though the gap and are fixed at an end assigned to one cylindrical surface and bear loosely with another, free end against the other cylindrical surface, the method comprising:

• first providing a seal with a plurality of individual, thin, planar sealing elements each having two ends and a sealing element plane, the sealing element plane extending in a direction which deviates from the radial direction and is fixed at one of said two ends;
• second, for the uniform orientation of the free ends of the sealing elements, bringing to bear the sealing elements with their free ends against a coaxial cylindrical surface having a predetermined diameter so that they are subjected to a bending stress;
• and
• third, heat treating the sealing elements subjected to the bending stress so that the bending stress is completely removed, wherein the sealing elements comprise leaves and the seal comprises a leaf seal and the leaves are fixed at their outer ends, and wherein bringing the sealing elements to bear comprises pushing the arrangement with the leaves over a coaxially oriented mandrel which has at least one cylindrical section, the outside diameter of which mandrel is essentially the same as the predetermined diameter.