Help - Acer - bark peeling anything we can do?

[Suzanne]

I have a Purple Sentry Acer in the back garden. Its a reasonable size but looks to have suffered badly from what I think is frost damage. The bark has split on one side of the trunk and peeled back exposing the wood underneath. I have checked for fungus, beetle/insect damage and signs of canker and can't see any so  am almost positive its damage due to the bad winter.

My question is that approximately half one side of the trunk in a big area has lost it's bark. I am going to try and buy something to seal the area and try and prevent the other side of the trunk's bark splitting and doing the same - but can I expect to lose this tree or will it recover in time? If what I am doing isn't enough can you advise on any other actions.

The crown of the tree looks healthy enough at the moment. Thanks for your help.

[Suzanne]

[Robert_Brenchley]

It should recover as long as there's no further damage. If you seal it, there's a danger you may be sealing in any nasties which have landed on it in the interim and creating a lovely damp envoronment for them.

[Suzanne]

Thanks RB - I'll check again whether we seal the bark.