When choosing the right sealing device for your operation, it’s imperative to select one made of the right material and designed to prevent the kind of contamination, leakage, or wear that may be present. Gaskets are simply a type of flat mechanical seal which prevents leakage or contamination while simultaneously undergoing compression. Most ideal gaskets are made of deformable materials that can withstand such warping and return to their desired form without too much lasting change. Rubber is a perfect answer for such applications.
Liquid Sealing Gaskets
One of the most common uses for a gasket is to prevent leakage. Liquid sealing gaskets may also be gaskets designed to keep liquid from entering into an unwanted space. A large range of rubbers are impermeable and resistant to different liquids. When deciding the material of the gasket you employ, it’s necessary to account for the chemical properties of the materials your gasket will be coming into contact with. A wrong choice can lead to a broken seal.
These types of gaskets are often found in transformers and other electrical applications where oil, water, or other liquids need to be maintained and not allowed to leak outside or to other parts of the electronic equipment.
Environmental Sealing Gasket
These types of gaskets are mostly used in outdoor applications or in areas with a lot of debris and possibility for contamination. Environmental sealing gaskets often protect against dust, sand, rain, and other external dangers. These kinds of gaskets can often be found in outdoor operations.
Anti-Friction and Vibration Gaskets
Gaskets not only keep material in or out of an operation, but they can also be a vital piece of physical protection for machinery. In applications with a large amount of vibration or friction, a gasket serves as a sort of buffer between the two moving parts, taking the brunt of the force and diverting it away from the fragile and expensive machines. These gaskets must be able to retain their shape after being deformed, making rubber gaskets a good choice in the right applications.
Types of Rubber
As previously stated, the type of rubber can be just as important as the design of the gasket. There is a massive array of rubber and the kinds of applications they can be used in. Each material type has its advantages and disadvantages with one being right for most operations and the unique stresses that the application will put on the seal.
- Nitrile rubber is perhaps the most commonly used type of rubber in the sealing industry. It’s durable and won’t easily crack. The standard temperature range is -25F to 250F, but these ranges can be extended based on the grade of the rubber.
- Polyurethan rubber is one of the most durable forms of rubber, able to withstand a large amount of wear without the integrity of the seal suffering. The temperature range of polyurethane is higher and lower than nitrile. This type of rubber is also resistant to a range of chemicals including: petroleum oils, fuels, oxygen, and ozone.
- Silicon rubber gaskets are great for extreme temperature applications with a range of -175F to 500F based on the compounding of the rubber. Silicon is rubber resistant, which is frequently a much sought after property. The downside is that it isn’t as resilient against physical damage due to friction or tearing.
This is far and away not a complete list of possible rubber materials used in gaskets, so if the properties don’t seem to fit your needs there is a rubber out there for your operation. Nearly any kind of application can use a rubber gasket that calls for this kind of seal design.
Selecting the Right Gasket
Perhaps one of the most important steps in selecting a gasket is consulting an expert that can guide you to the right material. The wrong gasket seal can lead to a catastrophic failure leading to lost money and time, as well as causing safety concerns. Consulting the experts at Real Seal will make this process stress-free and you can ensure that your application is being properly sealed. Contact Real Seal today for all your rubber gasket needs.
