Types of Gaskets and Their Uses in the Manufacturing Industry

Types of Gaskets and Their Uses in the Manufacturing Industry

When it comes to gaskets, you can find a large number of or countless different types of industrial gaskets. Several manufacturing sectors like electronics, aerospace, automotive, appliance, and military employ gaskets in their manufacturing processes to ensure the highest efficiency level. But have you ever given a thought about what exactly a gasket is and why it is considered important?

Let us Explain this to you.

A gasket is a sealing device manufactured from a deformable material and has a round shape with a hole in the middle. It is placed between stationary components to create a tight seal and prevent the unwanted emission of fluids and gases. The seal created by a gasket is resistant to extreme pressures, temperature fluctuations, and sometimes even to electromagnetic forces. The gaskets are more malleable than the components it joins that makes them conform to the shape of the surfaces they are placed in between.

You can easily find top gasket manufacturers offering gaskets in a large number of specifications, making it a little challenging for you to choose the right one for your manufacturing unit. In addition to this, you can get gaskets in a wide variety of materials, such as metal, plastic, rubber, corks, composite substances, and foams.

Finding the right gaskets from the whole range of options can become easier if you have proper knowledge of the types of gaskets and their uses in the manufacturing industry. You can go for a gasket supplier that will help you select the right type of gasket. Still, you are the one who better knows the exact requirements of your manufacturing unit and makes a perfect choice.

Therefore, here we are explaining to you the different types of gaskets and their uses:

Non-Metallic Gaskets

The most common materials to manufacture gaskets are Rubber, Graphite, Cork, Silicone, and Compressed Non-Asbestos Fiber. They are also known as soft-gaskets and provide a tight seal between two static components.

Types of non-metallic gaskets:

• Rubber Gaskets: They are made using elastomers like neoprene, EPDM, nitrile, and natural rubber. The gaskets are mainly used in applications in which heat is generated.
• Graphite Gaskets: As the name implies, the gaskets are made from graphite material that makes them work great in high temperature and pressure applications.
• Cork Gaskets: These gaskets are known for their excellent flexibility and compression features, and that makes them perfect for applications involving solvent, oil, and fuels.
• Silicone Gaskets: Silicone gaskets serve their applications in a wide variety of applications. Silicone is a robust material that provides great performance in extreme temperatures. Owing to the silicone resistance feature, the gaskets made from it are FDA approved and used in the food & beverage sector.
• Compressed Non-Asbestos Fibre Gaskets (CNAF): The gaskets are made from aramid fibers and specialized filler materials that make their application possible in low surface pressure processes.

Metallic Gaskets

Metal gaskets are made using materials like Low Carbon Steel, Monel, Inconel, Soft Iron, and Stainless Steel. These gaskets also go by the name Ring gaskets or RTJ (Ring Type Joint) gaskets.

Features:

• Metallic gaskets serve their best purpose in high-pressure class flanges and can also be used for high-temperature applications.
• While using metallic gaskets, high tension bolting is required.
• The gaskets are robust & cost-effective.
• The Gaskets fit in a groove machined on the flange face of both mating flanges.

Composite Gasket or Semi-Metallic

Composite gaskets are manufactured by combining both metal and non-metal materials. Different types of materials are combined to meet all possible requirements of industries.

Spiral Wound, Kammprofile Gasket, and Metal Jacketedare are well-known gaskets that fall under the category of composite gaskets. The gaskets are used in a vast array of pressure and temperature applications.

Composite gaskets are affordable in comparison to metal gaskets but require more careful handling. They are used on raised face, tongue-and-groove, and male-female flanges.

Types of Composite Gasket or Semi-Metallic

• Spiral Wound Gaskets: They are widely used in applications where high temperature and pressure are involved. The gaskets consist of three materials- Inner & Outer ring, Winding Material, and Filler Material. The inner ring provides support to the winding material. The winding is an alternative layer of filler material and winding material. The filling material is made from materials like PTFE and graphite, which make it soft, whereas the winding material is just a thin sheet of metal.
• Kammprofile Gaskets: They are widely used in applications where high temperature and pressure are involved. The gaskets consist of three materials- Inner & Outer ring, Winding Material, and Filler Material. The inner ring provides support to the winding material. The winding is an alternative layer of filler material and winding material. The filling material is made from materials like PTFE and graphite, which make it soft, whereas the winding material is just a thin sheet of metal.
• Metal Jacketed Gaskets: These gaskets have a soft filler material enclosed in a thin sheet of a metal jacket. You can get these gaskets in a range of shapes and sizes and are used mainly in heat exchangers, channel, shell, and cover flange joints.

Selecting the right gasket

Before moving out to the market or any of the best gasket suppliers, you must determine your manufacturing industry requirements. To help you out, below mentioned are a few factors that you should consider for making the right choice:

• The gasket must be compatible with your industrial fluid.
• Ability to withstand the pressure and temperature of the system.
• The gaskets must possess a great service life and should be available at market leading prices.

Before investing in any type of gasket, it is important for everyone to understand the requirements of their particular applications. Ensure that the gaskets you are buying can maintain a seal for an expected period against all the operational forces combined.

Wrapping up

You can get gaskets in a variety of specifications that allow you to carry your manufacturing processes efficiently and hassle-freely. Even if you can’t find the right gasket, you can get it customized from any of the top gasket manufacturers. We hope that this article has helped you understand the types of gaskets and their uses in different manufacturing industries.