Gaskets are components that can provide proper sealing of materials. They often fill the space between two objects to effectively prevent any instances of leakage while they are under compression. They can likewise fill in the spaces of objects to ensure that the gaps between them are closed entirely.

With gaskets, machines and other products are expected to operate smoothly, especially when they are typically exposed to volatile substances. But for the gaskets to be effective, a couple of things must be considered first. One of these things is the temperature of the surroundings. Another thing to consider is the compatibility of the chemicals that they will be exposed to. Ultimately, the overall requirements of the application, such as the number and size of bolts, must be accounted for when picking the right gaskets.

The different properties of gaskets typically stem from their overall material composition.

General Features of Asbestos Gaskets

One of the materials that are used in generating gaskets is asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral that is composed of soft and flexible fibres. Its primary composition allows the material to effectively withstand corrosion, electricity, heat. Asbestos can also be great in insulating heat and electricity.

All these features alone make asbestos a great material for gaskets. Combining asbestos with some fillers and rubber can then generate gaskets that are highly resistant to high temperature. With normal usage, asbestos gaskets can easily withstand the temperature of up to 1,000°C. 

Aside from heat resistance, asbestos gaskets also feature excellent mechanical strength. These gaskets often have multivalent metal cations that can improve the bonding strength of their overall material composition. With improvements over their bonding strength, they can easily ensure that the connected surfaces or products will remain intact throughout their operations.

Non-Asbestos Gaskets as Alternative

Even with all the key properties of asbestos gaskets, they can easily be maximised by many industries due to their low costs. However, industries that once utilised these gaskets have switched to other types of gaskets. And one main reason behind this change is the effects of asbestos on humans.

Asbestos fibres, even at minuscule amounts, may be inhaled or ingested by humans. And unlike other elements, asbestos fibres are known to be permanently trapped in the body. Over time, these trapped elements can cause inflammation, scarring, and genetic damage to people. Asbestos exposure may even lead to lung diseases and mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer.

Non-asbestos gaskets, fortunately, are now widespread all over the world. Even though the heat resistance and mechanical strength of asbestos gaskets are better than the non-asbestos ones, the latter are still preferred by many due to health safety reasons. Besides, the mineral fibres, organic fibres, fillers, and rubber that can be found on non-asbestos gaskets are already more than enough to fill the gaps and spaces and prevent elements from entering or leaking out of the parts and surfaces.

To obtain non-asbestos gaskets, you can reach us at Gasketech.

A wide variety of industries would maximise gaskets in sealing the gaps of two parts. After all, the gaskets are made from materials that can act as a barrier against fluids, contaminants, electrostatic discharge, and electromagnetic interference. Aside from keeping these elements at bay, gaskets can also assist in resisting extrusion and creep of objects whenever they are being utilised.

But for the gaskets to be effective in specific gasketing applications, they must be made from a specific material that would make them compatible with their surrounding conditions. Using gaskets that are not designed to operate in specific applications may only lead to operational failures and costly damages.

When choosing the right gasket material for your gasketing application, here are some factors that you need to consider carefully.

Chemicals

Gaskets are often used in sealing the components of boilers, fuel tanks, water pipes, and similar objects. And by utilising these objects, you may already expect the presence of chemicals, acids, and gases. For gasketing purposes, these elements must be checked first to know which material can withstand or resist their potentially damaging effects. Once you have identified the right material for your gaskets, you can expect them to carry out their sealing process without facing critical issues or problems along the way.

Temperature

Some industries that utilise gaskets include chemical processing, mining, military, oil and gas, and power generation. One thing that is common in these industries is that their processes often utilise varying temperatures. Some of them may operate at high temperatures, while others require processes to be done under low temperatures. The whole range of your operating temperatures must be identified first so that you can opt for a gasket material that is compatible with your application.

Pressure

Gaskets can now be generated from different materials. Some of the materials that can be used in producing gaskets include rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, silicone, aramid, carbon fibre, stainless steel, aluminium, graphite, cork, and polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. These materials can handle different pressure changes during their use. If your application boasts frequent pressure changes in a short time, then you may want to go for a robust material that can handle these changes effectively.

Application

All crucial aspects of your application must be accounted for when looking for the best material for your gasket. You must know the number of bolts that you will be utilising. You may even want to identify their sizes and grades to ensure that the gaskets can handle them effectively and provide enough compression between the surfaces. Just remember to maintain the components that will be installed with your chosen gaskets so that their service life can improve significantly.

If you need some help in finding the best gasket material for your application, feel free to contact us at Gasketech. We are a renowned manufacturer and supplier of gaskets and sealing washers, extrusions, and mouldings that are compatible with all industries.

Many manufacturers utilise gaskets in sealing spaces and preventing leakage from or into the said spaces during operations. Through these mechanical seals, equipment pieces and machines exposed to various elements can maintain their operations without expecting any leaking issues. They are also prevented from getting damaged due to exposure to gas, liquid, and other volatile substances.

But for gaskets to be effective, they must be installed correctly. Gaskets that are installed properly certainly allow them to fulfil their functions. Alternatively, installing them wrongly will only generate consequences that can affect the overall operations of equipment pieces and machines. 

Here are some of the most common gasket installation mistakes that you should avoid.

Choosing the Wrong Material

Gaskets can be made from different materials. Some of these materials are rubber, cork, asbestos, metal, and fibreglass. While these materials can all carry out primary gasket functions, they still have unique properties that can only work in certain conditions and applications. Choosing a gasket that cannot tolerate specific elements would only damage it right away. It might even damage the equipment.

Contaminating the Surface

Another installation mistake that industries might commit is the contamination of the gasket surface. People who are assigned to install the gaskets must ensure that their hands are clean so that they can handle the said mechanical seals without transferring any dirt particles. They must also make sure that any grease and tiny particles on the gaskets’ surface will be removed before their installation. Failure to ensure their cleanliness will only result in irregular sealing and contamination of surfaces.

Disregarding Visible Flaws

Not all gaskets are created equal. While most gaskets are produced perfectly, others might have some noticeable defects and flaws. These defects and flaws should be identified right away so that the gaskets will not be used anymore. Some notable defects and flaws include cracks, ridges, and signs of corrosion. Disregarding these flaws would only cause the gasket operations to fail.

Using Damaged or Old Bolts

Bolts that have contaminated or damaged threads should not be used again. Even bolts that have been used for a long time should be replaced for the gaskets to be effective. The continuous use of damaged bolts would only generate false torque readings and can affect their clamping force. Old bolts likewise tend to over-stretch, which can compromise their clamping force. When installing gaskets on damaged or old bolts, the overall sealing can be compromised.

Skipping Vital Bolt Inspections

The overall length of the bolt must be measured first before the installation of gaskets. Additionally, the bolt holes must be checked to see if they correspond to the correct length of the bolt. Another element that must be checked is the condition of the bolt holes. Skipping these vital inspections will only make the gasket installation fail significantly.

To know more about gasket installation, feel free to contact us at Gasketech. We are a manufacturer and supplier of gaskets and sealing washers, extrusions, and mouldings for all industries.

There are a bunch of materials today that can be very effective when it comes to sealing applications. One of these materials is foam. Foam is generally a type of material that can effectively trap elements, particularly gas, in a solid or a liquid. Solid foam or sponge is typically comprised of expanded rubber products that can be effective in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications.

To date, there are two types of solid foam that one can maximise. These types are open cell and closed cell foams. They boast unique characteristics and qualities that make them beneficial for specific applications. Here is a quick comparison between the two foam types.

Open Cell Foam

Open cell foams, as their name implies, have cells that are not entirely closed. Most of the time, foam products that have around 50% of open cells can be considered open cell foams, and they often have certain qualities that make them beneficial for some uses. 

For one, open cell foams can boast lower density compared to their counterpart. This quality signifies that they can allow liquid or gas to pass through, which can be great for retaining and releasing products. Sealing applications, however, cannot utilise open cell foams as elements will only pass through freely. Nevertheless, they can be economical since they do not require a lot of materials. 

These qualities make them perfect for providing comfort, which is often needed by car seats, sofas, pillows, mattresses, and internal cushions. Their ability to hold and release water likewise makes them great for sponges, mop heads, and other cleaning products. Filtration, acoustic, and support applications can also maximise products that are comprised of open cell foams. Applications that have damaging surrounding elements, however, cannot utilise products out of open cell foams.

Closed Cell Foam

Closed cell foams, on the other hand, are foams that have closed cells. The composition of these foams allows them to be effective in terms of sealing surfaces and insulating spaces. And once they are compressed, they can become water and airtight.

These foams, unlike open cell foams, can boast a wide array of densities. They can also be durable, making them applicable for protective use. And since they do not allow liquid or gas to pass through, they can be effective in resisting water degradation and mould formation. All these qualities allow these foams to be very effective in terms of domestic, commercial, and industrial sealing and repair.

The water and airtight qualities of closed cell foams allow them to be effective in sealing and gasketing applications. They can even be used for waterproofing electrical boxes, cabinetry, and other spaces that can be damaged by water. Dust, draught, and other elements can likewise be prevented from entering once closed cell foam products are utilised. Doors, windows, air conditioning units, and HVAC system can all maximise the capabilities and qualities of closed cell foam products.

To obtain closed cell foam products for sealing applications, feel free to call us at Gasketech.

Gaskets have been very beneficial for industries that require perfect assembly and mating of two or more objects. Typically, these mechanical seals allow the surfaces to stay intact throughout the lifespan of products and components. And through these seals, any elements that are surrounding or are already inside the components will be prevented from leaking in or out.

While a lot of gaskets are intended to last for a long time, others tend to fail inevitably. Once the gaskets deteriorated and failed, any elements that are inside the mating surfaces will leak, which can be harmful to the people around them. These elements might even cause issues and damages to the surrounding areas. Power can also be minimised once the gaskets fail to carry out their purposes. Ultimately, products and components that rely heavily on gaskets will cease operating.

There are three main reasons behind gasket failures.

Compatibility Issues

One of the most common reasons behind gasket failures is the existence of compatibility issues. Every application that requires gaskets has variables that may be different from one another. Some of them are intended to be exposed to extreme temperatures, while others can already operate at room temperatures. Some applications likewise have stronger pressure requirements than others. Even the elements present during the operations will be different from one application to another. All these variations of requirements only mean that a gasket should be picked based on the very nature of an application. And if a gasket is not truly compatible with a certain application, it will certainly fail very quickly.

Installation Mishaps

Gaskets are typically installed to ensure that surfaces will be joined and assembled effectively. However, there are times where the gaskets are not installed properly, which would then cause gasket failures along the way. One root cause of problematic gasket installations is that the applied sealing load to the gaskets is not sufficient. Additionally, the problems that are present with incompatible gaskets may be transferred to their installation themselves. Gaskets can be installed perfectly if the gasket type, flange type, and other factors are considered thoroughly. Additionally, if the components are tightened based on recommended specifications, then the gaskets will not fail prematurely.

Surrounding Factors

Another reason behind common gasket failures is the failure to check the surrounding factors. Even though the gaskets have been chosen perfectly for certain applications, the elements that are present in the surroundings can still have a significant impact on these sealing devices. If the environment of the application has corrosive elements and has high temperatures, then the gaskets must be made from materials that can withstand these elements and situations. The vibration of the components must also be considered as some gaskets tend to become loose easily. Other factors of applications that must be assessed first before getting some gaskets are the presence of flange damages and gasket reuse.

If you need to buy new gaskets for your applications, feel free to call us at Gasketech. We are a manufacturer and supplier of gaskets and sealing washers, extrusions, and mouldings for all industries.