The invention pertains to a rotary joint for use with rotating machinery, such as a dryer drum, where the joint is conveying steam by means of a rotating nipple and sealing structure. The primary elements are a stationary housing comprised of a head, body and a wear plate, a pickup tube and a spring biased nipple with a collar which engages a molybdenum lubricated reverse radius seal ring. Alignment of the components is maintained through the interaction of two guide bearings supporting the nipple, the wear plate sealing surface and the nipple collar which is spring biased against a reverse radius seal ring intermediate the wear plate sealing surface and the nipple collar sealing surface. The invention includes a plurality of radial slots defined on the nipple collar sealing surface which reduce seal loading when steam is applied to the joint by reducing the area subjected to a differential pressure, and which lubricate the sealing surface with steam and a dry lubricant impregnated reverse radius seal ring positioned intermediate the wear plate and the nipple collar sealing surfaces.