3 Main Reasons behind Common Gasket Failures

24 May 2021

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.

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