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To investigate the failure mechanism of the magnetic fluid seal (MFS) with opposite pole teeth (OPT) in gas and vacuum environments, a sealing device was designed to directly observe the surface shape of the magnetic fluid film. The failure mechanism and sealing performance of the MFS-OPT in different environments were investigated and discussed with the ordinary MFS. Numerical analysis was conducted to study the magnetic field distribution of the sealing device. The self-healing ability of the MFS-OPT in different environments was investigated. The results indicate that the pressure transfer process of sealing device occurs in a step-by-step manner. When the sealing device fails, it will go through two consecutive stages of microleakage and complete leakage. On the other hand, when the ordinary MFS fails, it first goes through a bubble stage. The magnetic fluid in the sealing device leaks from the middle location of the opposing pole teeth. The sealing device exhibits higher pressure resistance in a gas environment than that in a vacuum environment. Both gas and vacuum environments have a higher pressure resistance for MFS-OPT compared to ordinary MFSs. • The MFS-OPT device can visualize the change of MF film shape. • In the MFS-OPT, the leakage channel occurs in the middle of the opposing PT. • In a gas environment, the gas bubbles are not produced by MF film during failure. • Pressure resistance and self-healing ability of the MFS-OPT are superior to the ordinary MFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]