comprised of a series of plates 102 securely attached to the fan sides 14 and the face of the fan blade 16 or a substrate 20 that is secured to the face of the fan blade 16 the seal extends to cover the surfaces with which the gas or liquid and suspended particles come in contact and cause wear the plates may be attached by brazing or soldering or by other methods such as the use of an epoxy material depending on the material composition of the plates 102 the fan blade 16 and fan sides 14 the material compositions and attachment methods also determine if a substrate 20 should be inserted between the plates 102 and the fan blade 16 the seal is comprised of a series of plates 102 rather than a single sheet of material because the edges of the plates 102 tend to reduce the turbulence of the gas or liquid across the surface of the seal 100 by breaking up the flow whereas a single smooth surface would increase the flow speed causing additional wear on the labyrinth seal 100 additionally individual plates can move slightly in relation to each other therefore withstanding the torque experienced when the fan starts or stops without cracking or fracturing such as a single large surface might experience the labyrinth seal 100 is further comprised.