Industrial buildings meant for manufacturing purposes typically utilise piping systems to carry out a wide range of processes. Generally, these systems are meant to convey fluids and other elements from one place to another. This process makes them useful in manufacturing various materials like aluminium, glass, copper, concrete, fibreglass, timber, and others.

Piping systems can also be useful in other types of industrial buildings. Some of these buildings include chemical plants, power plants, and oil refinery plants. Even commercial buildings take advantage of these systems to transport clean water, wastewater, and others.

The effectiveness of piping systems is brought by their main components. One of the components these systems utilise is gaskets.

General Purposes of Gaskets

Gaskets can be found in almost all piping systems as they can help prevent leakages, which are often the primary source of issues in commercial and industrial applications. With the presence of gaskets, the joints in piping systems can be sealed optimally, preventing leakages and all issues associated with them. Installing these components can then improve the efficiency of these systems and reduce their maintenance costs.

Another purpose of gaskets in piping systems is they can deter corrosion from ruining their overall quality. Gaskets are often made from materials that can withstand elements that cause corrosion. As they are installed in piping systems, they can effectively reduce cases of accidents and leaks on commercial and industrial properties, making them safe. Their corrosion resistance can even protect people from safety and health risks.

Ultimately, gaskets in piping systems allow them to withstand changes brought by movement or the environment. They can even reduce the effects of noise and sound on the piping systems.

Most Common Gasket Types

Various types of gaskets can be incorporated into the piping systems to make them effective. These types are as follows.

• Non-Metallic Gaskets: Non-metallic gaskets, also known as soft gaskets, are often made from materials like rubber, Teflon, graphite, PTFE, and CNAF. These gaskets are characterised by their ease of compression with low-tension bolting. They are likewise utilised with low-pressure class flanges. One pro of these gaskets is they are cheap, making them the best choice for industries that want to save some resources.

• Metal Gaskets: Metal gaskets are gaskets produced out of low-carbon steel, soft iron, stainless steel, and other similar materials. These gaskets are likewise identified as ring gaskets or RTJ gaskets. One characteristic of metal gaskets is they are utilised in high-pressure class flanges. They can likewise work effectively once high-tension bolting has been implemented. Industries use these gaskets since they are very robust. They can be, however, more expensive than the non-metallic ones.

• Composite Gaskets: Composite gaskets are gaskets that combine metal and non-metal materials. Some of the most popular composite gaskets today are spiral wounds, metal jacketed, and grooved gaskets. These gaskets are highly effective in applications that involve a wide range of pressure and temperature. They can be cost-effective. However, they require careful handling to ensure their longevity. Composite gaskets are paired on raised faces, male-female, and tongue-and-groove flanges.

Gaskets are among the most utilised components in assembling machines, tools, and others. They are often used by industries since they can seal gaps between surfaces. They can also accommodate flange irregularities that may be present on the things they will apply to.

Many materials can be used to produce gaskets. Natural rubber, for instance, is utilised for gaskets since it is resistant to water, shock, and vibration. It can also work effectively with metal surfaces, making natural rubber gaskets excellent for water pumps and pipes. Silicone rubber is another material that can be used for gaskets. Silicone rubber gaskets are flexible and weather resistant. They can also perform effectively at extreme temperatures, making them suitable for pharmaceutical and food processing applications.

Some more materials often maximised for producing gaskets are neoprene rubber and cork. But one material that can be useful in specific applications and projects is vulcanised fibre. 

Properties of Vulcanised Fibre

Vulcanised fibre is a material that combines heat-treated fibrous materials and additives to generate a hard rubber. This material is said to be one of the first plastics to be developed by industries. And even after decades of using vulcanised fibre, it is still utilised by many for sealing hardware such as washers and gaskets. 

Many fibres can be integrated into the vulcanised fibre. These fibres include wood pulp, cotton, paper, and many more materials. The integration of these things helps vulcanised fibre attain added strength and toughness without compromising flexibility. 

As mentioned earlier, vulcanised fibres also take advantage of chemical additives. Once the fibres used for this material are exposed to chemical additives, the former intends to dissolve until they generate a slurry. The slurry will then be compressed by a press or a roll at high temperatures, establishing a solid bond between the materials without chemical agents. The resulting vulcanised fibre can be further shaped through forming, cutting, punching, turning, milling, sawing, and shearing. 

Vulcanised Fibre Key Benefits

Vulcanised fibre gaskets can provide tons of benefits for industries that will be using them. If your business will be maximising these gaskets, you can expect to gain the following benefits.

To obtain vulcanised fibre gaskets, feel free to contact us at Gasketech.

Gaskets have been beneficial for a lot of industries. Once applied to equipment pieces and other assemblies, these gaskets can easily prevent process fluids from escaping. They can likewise deter contaminants from entering. These functions ensure that industries can fully maximise their equipment pieces and others without any issues.

Since the applications of various industries vary, not all gaskets boast similar characteristics. One of the elements that can differentiate gaskets is their materials.

Some gaskets can be made from solid materials, which are known for their durability and long lifespan. Others, alternatively, are made from foam materials. Foam gaskets are well-known for their affordability and low compressional forces. 

Sponge Gaskets

Gaskets can also be made from sponge materials, which are generally known for their low compressional forces and fire resistance. Here are specific types of sponge materials that can be used for manufacturing gaskets.

• Silicone Sponge: Gaskets made from silicone sponges are highly recommended for padding and gasketing applications. These gaskets, after all, are soft and compressible. Another quality of these gaskets is they have extreme temperature resistance, making them suitable for outdoor applications. They can also prevent the absorption of water and offer an excellent compression set as they do not have interconnected closed cells. Silicone sponge gaskets have the longest life out of all silicone materials.

• Neoprene Blend: Neoprene blend gaskets are sponge gaskets that are soft and compliant with most gasket applications. They can also work with applications that require weatherstripping, thermal barrier, shock absorption, and basic sealing. Similar to a silicone sponge, the neoprene blend features closed cells that are not interconnected, allowing this material to be impermeable to water absorption. Gaskets made from this material are likewise cheaper compared to solid rubber ones and other sponge materials.

• EPDM Sponge: EPDM or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer is a material that can also be used for generating and producing useful gaskets. Gaskets made from EDPM may boast qualities that neoprene blend gaskets already possess. But one thing that makes EDPM gaskets stand out is they have greater ozone resistance. This quality allows these sponge gaskets to be suitable in areas where prolonged ozone exposure is expected. Its resistance to ozone, however, makes the gaskets more expensive than neoprene blend gaskets.

Key Applications

Most of these sponge materials may come in extra firm, firm, medium and soft densities. Their general qualities, additionally, make them the best choice for applications prone to bowing, warping, and cracking at compression stops. They also have flame resistance ratings that make them useful in a lot of industrial applications. To gain access to high-quality sponge gaskets, you can contact us at Gasketech. We offer fast and superior services in terms of supplying gaskets for your applications. We utilise economical yet technically advanced sealing materials so they can be utilised without any issues. Standards set by you; we ensure that our gaskets will provide optimum performance for a very long time. Quick turn-around is likewise an absolute assurance from our beloved team.

When it comes to sealing two or more surfaces, industries would often turn to gaskets. Gaskets can be perfect for sealing as they are often made from flexible materials. Once installed, they effectively fill in any gap that may be present between surfaces, deterring liquid and other elements from coming in and out of the sealed objects.

Aside from sealing elements, industries also use gaskets to minimise or even stop vibration from affecting the performance and longevity of the sealed objects. Friction is likewise deterred between the objects, ensuring that they will not get damaged in a short time.

Given the importance of gaskets, they should be sourced from a good manufacturer and supplier. It would even be better if they come from one that can generate custom ones. Here are some qualities to look for in a custom gasket manufacturer and supplier.

1. Availability of Materials

Gaskets can be manufactured effectively with almost any material. But one factor that may separate one manufacturer from another is the availability of materials. Some manufacturers may have difficulties sourcing raw materials just to produce quality custom gaskets, forcing them to spend a lot of time looking for one and asking for high selling costs. Others, alternatively, have great partnerships with industry-leading material suppliers, allowing them to generate cheap gaskets. Hire one that has access to gasket materials to save some time and money.

2. Technical Capabilities

It would also be better for industries to hire a manufacturer and supplier that can generate custom gaskets without any compromises. A manufacturer may have direct access to great material suppliers, but if they do not know how to handle custom gasket works, they won’t be able to produce them effectively. One that can process materials smartly can generate gaskets without losing their accompanying characteristics and qualities. A manufacturer should likewise be able to review and modify gasket design plans first to prevent costly mistakes.

3. Essential Quality Control

Quality is crucial in gaskets since they must conform to the objects optimally. Faulty gaskets can, after all, damage the products they intend to seal. To ensure that a manufacturer can produce quality gaskets, one should look for their quality systems, standards, and practices. Do they follow systems that can make their gaskets uniform? Are their employees carry out checks to ensure that the gaskets will not have any deformity or damage? Knowing how they work and the standards they follow can already pinpoint whether they prioritise quality or not.

4. Registry Certifications

One more quality to look for in a custom gasket manufacturer and supplier is their registry certifications. A custom gasket manufacturer can only carry out its operations continuously if they possess registry certification, allowing them to provide products that adhere to the requirements of industries. A certification may vary from one industry to another. Hence, one should also know if the prospective gasket manufacturer and supplier possess the right certifications. They should likewise be able to comply with standards in gasket production.

If you want to gain access to quality custom gaskets, you can contact us at Gasketech.