Industrial machines and tools should be assembled properly to ensure that they remain functional throughout their service life. Proper assembly of these things, after all, can prevent leakage.

Leakage can be a huge issue among industrial machines and tools since they are generally made from material-sensitive components. Once moisture, air, and other elements infiltrate their internal components, they may easily get damaged. Materials that come out of the machines and tools canlikewise cause damage to nearby components.

One way to prevent leakage from happening is by installing gaskets. Gaskets are mechanical seals that can fill the space between two or more objects. Tons of materials can be used in making them. Many industries, however, often opt for either natural or synthetic rubber.

Natural Rubber Gasket

Natural rubber, as its name implies, is typically extracted from nature. Produced primarily by tapping trees, natural rubber can be mostly found in tropical climates.

What is great about natural rubber gaskets is they have high tensile strength. They likewise have high tear resistance, fatigue resistance, and low odour. The fatigue resistance of these gaskets prevents them from getting damaged due to chipping, cutting, or tearing. Another great thing about natural rubber gaskets is they can adhere to other materials optimally. 

As for their downsides, natural rubber gaskets cannot completely resist the effects of heat, light, and ozone exposure. They likewise have natural proteins that can trigger allergic reactions in some people, especially if they are exposed to these things for a long time. 

Synthetic Rubber Gasket

Synthetic rubber, on the other hand, is produced from polymers. These materials can imitate the qualities of natural rubber. They may even sometimes provide more enhancements to synthetic rubber.

Synthetic rubber gaskets have been preferred by many industries as they can provide better abrasion resistance. They can also withstand chemicals, fluids, electrical heat, and ozone. Synthetic rubber gaskets can even withstand the effects of aging and fire, resist grease and oil, and remain flexible at low temperatures. These qualities make them very useful in extreme temperature and corrosive applications. 

Although synthetic rubber gaskets already boast properties that natural rubber lacks, they still have some drawbacks that industries often consider. Synthetic rubber gaskets have poor tensile strength and tear strength. They also have poor mechanical properties.

Picking the Best Rubber

When picking the best rubber material for your gaskets, you must primarily consider their intended use. You must also know the condition of the environment where the gaskets will be installed or placed. Budget can also be a factor in picking the material for your gaskets. 

If you need help in picking the best rubber gaskets for your application, you can contact us at Gasketech. We have a dependable expert who is ready to discuss sealing and leakage problems with you. We can also readily service and supply quality gaskets that you may need for your local machinery.

Gaskets are mechanical devices that can keep parts shut off from damaging elements. Many materials can be maximised in producing gaskets. But one of the most popular materials for gaskets that many industries and even households use is rubber. 

Industries and households use gaskets out of rubber since the material can be effective against liquids and gases. Rubber gaskets are likewise popular since they can deform based on the surfaces of the parts. These gaskets, however, still have some weaknesses that they must take care of. Rubber gaskets can be weak against extreme temperatures and light. They also have a shorter service life compared to other gasket materials.

Rubber gaskets may truly be effective in sealing your parts and components. But if you are looking for a reliable alternative for these gaskets, you may want to opt for cork gaskets. Here are some of the most notable properties of cork gaskets that you should know.

1. Resistance to Elements

One of the most notable properties of cork gaskets is their resistance to elements. Just like rubber, cork gaskets can also be effective in most sealing applications as they can withstand the effects of water, ozone, oils, and other gases and liquids. Despite utilising them for a long time, cork gaskets will not age poorly due to their moisture resistance. What makes cork gaskets resistant to these things is that they utilise cell walls out of a reliable waxy substance. 

2. Dependable Elasticity

Another great property of cork gaskets is they have dependable elasticity. Some gaskets may conform to the shape of the parts and components. They may, however, swell on one side whenever they are compressed for a long time. Cork gaskets, alternatively, have a closed-cell structure that grants them quality flexural strength and resilience. Some layers of these gaskets may even be compressed to half of their thickness and still have the capability to regain their original appearance after removing the load.

3. Minimal Conductivity

Cork is often made from suberin, lignin, polysaccharides, ceroids, and tannins. All these elements provide cork gaskets with low conductivity to noise, making them effective in applications that can be sensitive to sound. They likewise have low conductivity to vibration, making them great for anti-vibration applications. These elements even help cork gaskets to become fire-retardant, making them highly effective in thermal insulation, aerospace, and automotive applications. 

4. Ensured Sustainability

One more property of cork gaskets that makes them beneficial for industries and households is they are sustainable. Cork is normally obtained from the harvested bark of the cork oak tree. Since it comes from a natural resource, this material is expected to be free from toxic substances. It is even non-allergenic, making the material perfect for those that have delicate body systems. And once materials out of cork reached the end of their service life, they can easily be collected and recycled.

If you need to gain access to cork gaskets, feel free to call us at Gasketech.