Common Gasket Materials, Uses and Applications – BSCL

Choosing the right gasket for your particular application can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there is an easy way to find out which type of gasket will work best.

Gaskets are classified in three common ways: by the material they are made of, by their function and specific application. Gaskets are a part that’s cut from some form of flexible material. The gasket is placed between two other surfaces, most commonly to create a seal between them. The purpose is to prevent the leakage of some type of liquid, stopping vibration or mounting items to walls or the outsides of buildings.

Common Gasket Materials

A gasket is made of a particular material in order to resist chemicals, weather or pressure. Three common types of gasket materials are rubber, non-asbestos and cork. Rubber gaskets are most commonly used in pipes, heat exchangers and the like. Non-asbestos gaskets are used in applications where they will be exposed to water, steam, acid or oil, and are manufactured from a compressed fibre bound with elastomers. Finally, cork gaskets are used in applications where solvents, oil or fuel exist, and are made of natural cork and elastomer for high compression and flexibility.

Common Gasket Functions

Three of the most common uses for gaskets include leakage, environmental, vibration and mountings.

Leakage

Leakage or ingress prevention is one of the most common uses for gaskets. However, it’s important to ensure that the rubber used for the gasket is designed for use with that specific liquid or set of liquids it will be exposed to. Also, it can help to know that different types of rubber offer different types of resistance to various chemicals. For example, nitrile gaskets are best suited to environments where exposure to solvents, oil and fuel will occur.

Environmental

These types of gaskets are used in situations where a seal is needed against dust and other types of contaminants. They allow the integrity of enclosures to be maintained so that the equipment located within can continue operating at optimum levels.

Anti-vibration

Vibration can cause damage and loss of energy if allowed to continue. These types of gaskets are used in locations such as structural bearings, machinery mountings and pipe supports.

Mountings

Digital display advertising units need to be protected from dust, shock, weather and several other circumstances. This is another application where gaskets can be used. They are also used to protect the access panels which house electrical components.

Common Gasket Applications

Manway gaskets are used in closed vessels such as boilers and fuel tanks. In order to design a gasket for these closed vessel applications, there will be particular shape, pressure and heat requirements.  For example, a certain closed vessel gasket may need to be round with a single stud bolt and be manufactured to withstand the pressures of a standard fuel tank to a steam pressure vessel.

Electrical transformer gaskets are used to either decrease or increase a received voltage. The amount will depend on required voltage supply and transformer type. These types of gaskets can be manufactured to withstand several weather conditions and environments. These gaskets are used to seal tanks and prevent leakage. They can also be used to protect transformer enclosures from the elements.

Here at BSCL, we provide quality and experienced advice on all our products. If you need any further info on gaskets, whether in regards to material, usage or quality then please give us a call on

01922 646 716

and speak to one of our sales team.

We are always happy to help and if we cannot provide you a product or information there and then we will take your details and get back to you as soon as we can.

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