Gaskets and Seals

Gaskets and seals are generally used to seal two or more surfaces together. Gaskets and seals are placed between specific surfaces to prevent gas or fluid leakage. These stamps are generally made from a flexible material such as rubber or even cork. The gasket or seal is placed between the appropriate surfaces, and then the surfaces are brought together and tightened by various mechanisms. This has the effect of putting pressure on the gasket or seal which responds by sealing the two surfaces together, thus preventing leakage from the gasket.

Gaskets are used in many industries, such as mechanical engineering, aerospace, automotive, and the plumbing industry. They are available for many types of sealing applications, and these can include pipe washers, motor and washer gaskets, etc. Many gaskets are commonly made by cutting sheet materials such as:

Fiberglass

Paper

Rubber

Cork and felt

Metal

Plastic polymers

Some gaskets that are manufactured for specific purposes are even made from asbestos. The gaskets should be made of a material that has elasticity and deformation qualities, so that they can firmly fill the gap and seal any small irregularities. Most joints should have some type of sealant applied to their surface to allow the joint to function properly. The gaskets must be able to handle high compressive loads and fiber gaskets are extremely effective for this purpose, and the more compressive load that is exerted on the gasket, the longer the life of the gasket. Gaskets must be manufactured to high standards and there are several ways to test the compressive qualities of the materials used. The 'hot compression test' is an extremely efficient method of testing these qualities, and most manufacturers will publish and provide the results of these tests. There are several different types of gaskets for various applications and these can include:

Foil Gaskets - Gaskets are cut from a sheet of material such as graphite, etc.

Solid material gaskets: made of metal and can withstand high temperatures and pressures.

Spiral Wound Gaskets - Made of a metallic and padding material.

Double jacket gaskets: made of metal and filler materials.

Kammprofile gaskets: the gaskets have a corrugated core with a flexible cover layer.