Gasket Materials and Applications

August 2, 2024

 
Gaskets serve as essential sealing components across diverse industries, ensuring the containment of liquids and gases within pipelines and various equipment. Despite the uniformity in their primary function of preventing leaks, the specific requirements of different applications necessitate the use of varied materials. These requirements include factors such as temperature, chemical compatibility, and pressure conditions. Therefore, selecting the appropriate gasket material is critical for effective sealing performance.

Gasket Selection Criteria

When selecting a gasket for a particular application, it is essential to evaluate the following six technical criteria:

• Temperature Range:
  Assess the operating temperature conditions the gasket must withstand.
• Pressure Range:
  Determine the pressure levels the gasket will encounter during service.
• Chemical Exposure:
  Identify the substances the gasket will contact, including any toxic, corrosive, edible, or potable materials, to ensure compatibility and prevent contamination.
• Environmental Exposure:
  Consider if the gasket will be subjected to UV radiation or other environmental factors.
• Product Standards:
  Verify whether the gasket needs to adhere to specific product standards relevant to the application.
• Industry Standards:
  Ensure compliance with any industry-specific standards or regulations that may apply to the gasket’s use.

If you are unsure of which gasket fits the roll of your industrial application, go to our Gasket Application Data Form for step by step instructions.

Common Gasket Materials and Their Industrial Applications

Selecting the appropriate gasket material is critical to ensuring effective sealing in various industrial applications. Below are some of the most prevalent gasket materials and their typical uses:

Compressed Non-Asbestos (CNA) Sheet:

• Composition: Blend of synthetic rubbers, rubber compounds, and fillers.
• Properties: High sealability, excellent chemical resistance.
• Applications: Oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE):

• Properties: Exceptional resistance to chemical corrosion, wide temperature range compatibility.
• Applications: Aggressive chemical environments, food and beverage industry, petrochemical industry, where cleanliness is paramount.

Flexible Graphite:

• Composition: High carbon content graphite, making it more malleable.
• Applications: Chemical industry, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) services.

Metallic Gaskets:

• Composition: Metals such as stainless steel and iron, either standalone or combined with non-metallic materials.
• Applications: Marine applications, mining, power generation.

Semi-metallic Gaskets:

• Composition: Combination of metallic and non-metallic materials (e.g., stainless steel core with flexible graphite, Mica or PTFE layers).
• Properties: Strength, flexibility, and high temperature range compatibility.
• Applications: Chemical industry, oil and gas, food and beverage, water and wastewater.

How Long Do Gaskets Last?

Determining the lifespan of gaskets is complex due to numerous influencing factors. Key variables include the materials used, the media involved in the specific industrial process, temperature and pressure conditions, gasket quality, installation accuracy, and maintenance levels.

• Material Composition: Different materials have varying lifespans based on their resilience and compatibility with the operational environment.
• Media Compatibility: Exposure to certain chemicals or substances can affect gasket durability.
• Operating Conditions: Temperature and pressure levels, as well as the gasket’s suitability for these conditions, play a crucial role.
• Gasket Quality: Higher quality gaskets generally have longer service lives.
• Installation: Proper installation is critical to ensure the gasket performs optimally.
• Maintenance: Regular system maintenance can extend gasket life.

Gaskets can last anywhere from 5 to 20 years depending on these factors. To maximize gasket lifespan:

• Selection: Choose gaskets that are specifically designed for the intended application.
• Storage: Store gaskets correctly when not in use, avoiding exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures, and humidity fluctuations

Durlon^® is one of the most recognizable brands when it comes to sealing solutions. We manufacture a wide variety of gaskets from different materials and for various purposes. If there is anything else you would like to know about gasket materials and uses, don’t hesitate to Contact us.