A gasket is a mechanical seal that can be made from a variety of materials such as metal, cork, plastic, foam, paper, rubber, felt, neoprene, fiberglass, nitrile, silicone, polytetraflouroethylene (also known as PTFE or Teflon) and other composite substances.
A gasket is usually manufactured in the form of a ring but can be manufactured for even the most complex sealing requirements with irregular and custom designs.
What is the function of a gasket?
A gasket is used to fill the space between two or more mating surfaces providing a static seal. For example, to create a pipeline, gaskets are used to make a seal between two pieces of pipe so that there is no leakage.
Because a gasket will fill the space between these surfaces, gaskets are made from a material that is able to deform and fill any slight irregularities in the mating surfaces. However this being said, some gaskets are made from metal such as the spiral wound gasket. Generally, spiral-wound gaskets are made from a mix of metallic and softer filler material, such as flexible graphite, which acts as the sealing element. Metal gaskets usually need to be compressed at a higher pressure in order to seal properly.
In addition, sometimes gaskets require the use of sealant applied directly to the gaskets surface in order to function properly.
What kind of applications are gaskets used for?
Proper gasket selection is a crucial aspect in many manufacturing processes as gaskets are available in a large number of specifications.
A gasket material is selected for an application based on the characteristics of the material, such as the materials resistance to acids, chemicals, pressures or extreme temperatures (or temperature fluctuations), and in some cases, electrical or electromagnetic forces.
A gasket is a fairly common manufactured component and can be found in a variety of products such as inside of cars, planes, boats, trains, pumps and electrical equipment.
What industries use gaskets?
A gasket material may provide the ability to withstand different environments, including deep sea, chemical processing, power generation, petrochemical, oil and gas, mining, military and even aerospace – some of the most challenging environments for industrial sealing products. Gaskets can also provide sanitary sealing solutions used widely in the filtration, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and other sanitary process industries.
Gaskets can be used for a variety of reasons, whether it is to prevent leakage, packaging, hygiene, sealing, anti-vibration, and sound and noise reduction.
Conclusion
Gaskets can be manufactured from many different materials, perform many different functions and be used in a variety of industries. Because there are such a wide variety of gasket materials to choose from, it’s important to consult a professional in order to find the best gasket for the job.