When it comes to selecting a gasket material for a particular application, there’s a lot to think about. From the shape to densities and properties of the material itself, the list of considerations is endless.
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The gasket material is a mechanical seal which helps fill the space between two or more surfaces. It’s an integral component of a lot of equipment, vehicles and machinery. Choosing the wrong one will lead to leaks and blow-outs which can cost you more money in the long run. Or in extreme cases, a leaking flange set-up can cause injuries from any contact with hot or toxic chemicals.
The problem is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Deciding on which gasket material to use is a matter of assessing the environment it’ll be in, what works best with the type of machinery you’re operating and evaluating the flange design and condition. To get you started, here’s a breakdown of the different types of gasket material on offer from leading gasket manufacturers.
Rubber gaskets are one of the most common materials used in gasket applications, due to their inherent properties as elastomers. They can bend, stretch, flex, twist and be formed into other shapes, making them perfect for filling up small spaces between two uneven surfaces you need to seal. Some common rubber gasket materials include:
Butyl Rubber Gaskets
Ideal for applications that are exposed to gases and water ingress, providing excellent weathering and ozone resistance.
Insertion Rubber Gaskets
Used as a water seal and reinforced with nylon fabric to provide extra strength and prevent stretch.
EPDM Rubber Gaskets
Always provide brilliant weatherproofing thanks to its resistance to ageing, UV, ozone and oxidation.
Neoprene Rubber Gaskets
Ideal as an external seal across a variety of applications, offering a top-quality watertight seal and resistance against oil and chemicals.
Silicone Rubber Gaskets
One of the best options within the electrical and renewable industry as they have fantastic sealing and insulation properties.
Nitrile Rubber Gaskets
Predominantly used in the automotive and industrial sectors, if you’re looking for first-class sealing against petrol-chemicals, greases and oils this is a great option.
Viton Rubber Gaskets
Often used in the oil and gas industry, Viton rubber gaskets offer outstanding sealing against gases and chemicals.
It’s worth noting that rubber gaskets aren’t as effective when temperatures become too hot or cold. In other cases, if the surrounding materials are too soft, it can lead to a lack of load or compression from bolts and compromise the effectiveness of the seal.
Foam gaskets are flexible for cutting and can either have a open-cell, semi closed cell and closed cell structure. This means they are highly effective as thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as shock and vibration control. They’re also perfect for sealing out dust and moisture. Common forms of foam gasket materials include polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, Nitto, PVC, pyrosorb, ECOcell and superseal.
Sponge gaskets have a closed-cell structure. It’s also very compressible and can work well in hot temperatures. Sponge gasket materials are best for outdoor applications and for reducing vibrations.
From EPDM sponge gaskets and Kaiflex EPDM gaskets to neoprene blend gaskets and nitrile PVC gaskets, there are various types of options to choose from – each suited to different applications.
Cork has been used as a sealing material for centuries, ever since the Romans used to cork their wine bottles with it.
As a gasket material, its closed-cell structure enables it to provide superb resilience and is extremely lightweight. Cork can withstand around half of its thickness and still recover when a load is removed, as well as resist water, many oils and ozone.
While natural cork does handle temperatures of up to 135C, other gasket materials are better equipped for hotter conditions. Instead, it thrives in sealing against water, gasses and liquids, and providing a perfect solution to rattling.
For good oil resistance under low pressure, neoprene cork gasket or nitrile cork gasket materials are a viable option.
The only major downfall to cork is that it isn’t particularly good in resisting mould, fungi and acid.
Another type of gasket material you can use is felt. Made from natural and synthetic materials including wool, acrylic and rayon, felt is usually used to manufacture gasket materials for architectural purposes – such as providing acoustic solutions and decoration.
One of the most common types of felt gasket materials is synthetic. It’s dense and renowned for its high-performance properties – including its resistance to tearing and fraying.
The good news is that finding the best quality gasket materials is easy. At Ramsay Rubber, we’re one of the UK’s leading gasket manufacturers.
Whether you need foam gaskets, neoprene rubber gaskets or felt gaskets, we offer a wide range of materials in various shapes, sizes, thicknesses and densities. With full conversion capabilities, from material slitting, adhesive laminating, die-cutting, fabrication and assembly, we can create cellular die cut gaskets bespoke to your needs.
To find out more, get in touch with our team today or take a look at our full range of gasket materials online.
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Back to ArticlesWhile they are low cost and appear to be simple, the value of choosing the best gasket material — such as expanded ptfe, vegetable fiber, or flexible graphite —cannot be understated. Even so, the custom gasket material is often not reviewed until there is gasket failure or if there is a high maintenance cost associated with servicing the gasket.
In either case, the primary function of a custom gasket is to provide mechanical seals for a liquid or gas throughout the life of the application. The industrial gasket serves as a buffer and compensates for any imperfections between mating surfaces that need to be sealed.
Let's take a closer look at a few elements that should be addressed in choosing the best gasket material for mechanical seals and other applications.
The starting point for choosing the best gasket material is typically temperature. Temperature considerations are critical because it can alter the physical characteristics of a material, including compression set, sealing properties, and maximum allowable stress.
It's vital to consider both external and internal temperatures because gaskets in direct sunlight exposure can easily experience internal temperatures in excess of 140 degrees.
On the other hand, exposure to an extremely cold flow or freezing temperatures can cause gaskets to become brittle or stiff, which can alter their physical properties and increase the chances of it failing.
Gaskets that experience cycling from warm to cold or vice versa in extreme applications can exhibit a higher compression set. As you can see, considering the temperature range is critical in choosing the best gaskets. It's imperative the material selected for gaskets can withstand exposure to the necessary range of temperatures.
Ozone and UV exposure are both potential sources of rubber gasket degradation. It's also important to understand ozone doesn't just come from the atmosphere, but it can be created by electrical enclosures with high voltage electrical components.
In either case, ozone and UV will break down the carbon bonds in the backbone polymers, which can result in hardening, drying, flaking, cracking, and scaling. Organic rubber gaskets like natural rubber, Buna-N (Nitrile), Buna-S(SBR), and synthetic isoprene will break down relatively quickly in exposure. However, EPDM and silicone are two materials that may be better equipped to resist UV in different applications.
When a certain amount of pressure is exerted on a system, joints can begin to deform. As a result, it's vital for pressure to be considered when choosing the best gasket materials. Today, some of the gaskets have a P x T rating factor offering insight into the max limits of pressure and temperature combined.
Manufacturers of aerospace, automotive, consumer, and industrial electronics are required to meet Federal (EMI) product standards. EMI is emitted by components as well as internal wires and can function like emitting antennas.
For EMI radiation to be controlled, electronic components must be completely encased in a conductive enclosure, and it's vital the enclosure and lid have complete contact.
As a result, a viable conductive gasket is necessary. In addition to EMI attenuation, these gaskets may also function as environmental sealing.
Undoubtedly, the media the gasket will be exposed to is a critical consideration. In general, gas will be more difficult to seal than a liquid. After the material with an acceptable temperature/pressure range has been identified, the next step is to consider whether it will be compatible with the media being sealed.
Chemicals can impact the functional properties and structural integrity of the material. And the chemical resistance of the gasket material is critical because the other properties of the gasket material would be irrelevant.
You should also consider the effect temperature will have on its chemical resistance. For instance, many fluids can be more aggressive in certain temperatures. As a result, gaskets used to seal fluids at an ambient temperature may not perform the same at higher temperatures.
Now we've covered a few of the top considerations for choosing the best gasket materials, let's look at a few common materials and their characteristics. At Frank Lowe, we offer most of our gasket materials on a roll or on a sheet based on the unique needs of your application.
Non-asbestos types of gaskets are created from a compressed fiber material and a binding elastomer. Non-asbestos types of gaskets are used across many different applications, involving water, oil, acid, and steam.
Cork gasket materials are very stable, lightweight materials with the ability to resist water penetration.
It boasts outstanding compressibility, high resistance to oil, solvents, and no lateral flow. Cork is unaffected by extreme temperatures and is resistant to wear. At Frank Lowe, we offer cork materials on a sheet as well as on rolls.
Cork-n-rubber materials are a combination of synthetic rubber polymers and granulated cork.
This offers high flexibility and resilience of rubber with the compressibility of cork. In addition, the rubber boasts the ability to provide chemical compatibility and act as a seal while helping resist weather conditions, acids, and fungus.
You can choose from a range of different rubber materials to best meet the chemical resistance needs of the gasket. You can also opt for cork-n-rubber die cut on a sheet or on a roll based on your needs.
Silicone gaskets are offered as foam, sponge, or as a solid. In either case, the characteristics can include general inertness, high-temperature stability, and resilience.
Silicone offers a number of benefits, including:
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