Everything from the size of the gasket to its ability to withstand degradation and damage plays a role in how well it can stop the escape of air, gas, water, or other fluids. Gaskets are placed between two flush surfaces that have a channel for fluid movement. Because the two surfaces might not be perfectly flush or straight, they’re going to have gaps that fluid can move through. Gaskets correct those gaps by being compressed between the two surfaces to effectively eliminate any leakage pathway.
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Some factors that buyers should consider as they purchase gaskets include:
If you know all the details of the application environment, you can choose gasket materials that withstand exposure to water, acidic or alkaline chemicals, oxidation, and more factors as needed. You can also pick gaskets with the right thickness, longevity, and malleability.
Selecting the right characteristics prevents gasket failure. These parts can fail if they’re exposed to chemicals that degrade the material or if the forces acting on the gasket are too great. This guide will focus on the six most important tips for choosing the perfect gasket for your needs:
Metal gaskets work best in extremely high-pressure applications. They create an initial line contact or contain the fluid through wedging once the two flush connection surfaces touch. Metal gaskets are also known as ring gaskets, and have either an ovular or octagonal cross-section. Octagonal cross sections provide a great deal of strength in the face of high pressure, such as the BX type that can handle 20,000 psi. Metal gaskets are commonly used in oil and gas industrial systems and secured with high-tension bolting.
Popular materials for metallic gaskets include:
Non-metallic, or soft, gaskets, compress between two surfaces with little tension or pressure. This makes them ideal for applications where the fluid contents have low pressure levels and can’t force a leak pathway through the gasket. Soft gaskets are affordable, easy to find in different materials and specifications, and able to be used in low-temperature applications.
One common non-metallic material option, graphite, can also be used in high-temperature applications up to 500°C. These gaskets come in full face varieties, which cover the entire face of a connecting surface, and inside bolt circle gaskets, which cover a smaller ring of surface area on the face; one common application for full face gaskets is temporarily connecting utility lines.
Popular materials for non-metal gaskets include:
Composite gaskets use both metal and non-metal materials, giving them the ability to provide a reliable seal in a variety of environments with different pressure and temperature factors. They are commonly used in male-female, raised face, and tongue-and-groove flanges. Because they contain less metal, they are often more affordable.
Three popular types of composite gaskets are:
When gaskets aren’t properly aligned to the application environment’s temperature, materials, or pressure, they are at an increased risk of failure. Each gasket’s material is best suited for a specific range of fluid or ambient temperature; silicone, for example, has a much wider temperature range (-30°F to 350°F) than neoprene, which is only viable at temperatures between 30°F and 180°F. One of the first considerations when choosing a gasket material is to know the minimum and maximum operating temperatures of the fluid.
The chemical makeup of the contained fluids should also determine which material your gasket has. Factors such as pH level, oil or water content, oxidation qualities, and more can corrode or destroy different materials through regular or irregular exposure.
Gaskets also perform differently depending on the pressure levels. Non-metallic gaskets, which can provide a compressed seal at relatively low pressures, cannot provide adequate resistance if the contained fluid is too pressurized; the fluid can force a path through the gasket’s seal. Synthetic rubbers, for example, often have a cap of 60 psi for reliable performance. Metallic gaskets, on the other hand, are well matched to the extremely high pressures in oil and gas processing plants.
Once you know which material is best for the end application, you can select the right type, or structure, of the gasket. Some popular varieties include:
Working with a gasket design engineer is an excellent choice for creating a custom gasket for unique applications or for expert assistance in selecting the features your system needs. If you choose the wrong materials, design style, and type, you may degrade the life span of the surrounding system. Further, mass manufacturing a flawed gasket type can result in a failed project or excessive expenses. Talk to a gasket design engineer about your design specifications and environmental factors that should shape the final product.
There are multiple factors to test on a new gasket design to ensure the materials, specifications, and style create an adequate and cost-effective seal. Regulatory or standardizing organizations like Underwriters Laboratories set objective standards that industrial and commercial parts must meet to be safe for sale or use. The same organizations often establish what sort of tests or testing conditions are necessary to certify that a product is safe. These tests assess a gasket’s ability to withstand temperature, chemicals, pressure, and compression to retain a seal.
The right manufacturer is essential for ensuring the material success of your project. Look for manufacturers that have experience creating gaskets for the industries or markets you serve. It’s also important to choose a manufacturer with established design, testing, and inspection capabilities, so the final product is high quality and reliable.
At Mercer Gasket, we specialize in creating custom gaskets that meet our clients’ needs. Our team of technical specialists, design engineers, and industrial experts has created custom gaskets for the refining and power generation industries. We’re an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, and our standard is 100% on-time and 100% defect-free products.
Reach out to our experts today to discuss your project and request a quote. Also, download our Gasket Selection eBook for a more in-depth guide to creating the right gasket for your needs.
Different Types of Oil Seals
Are you looking to keep your machinery free from any unwanted leakages but aren’t sure which rotary shaft seal is right for your needs? This guide will provide you with everything you need to know in order to select the right one for your application.
Oil seals, which are also known as rotary shaft seals, fluid seals or grease seals, play an important role in closing down the gaps between moving and stationary elements of mechanical equipment.
By preventing lubricants from escaping, they protect key components of machinery from being damaged by leaks of various fluids. Everything from car engines to assembly machines use these oil seals to remain free from any harmful interactions that can cause serious and expensive damage to any of their critical parts.
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There are a wide range of oil seals to select from for any number of uses, so this guide will break down the most common seals to help you choose the right one for whatever piece of machinery you are working on.
What are rotary shaft seals?
Rotary shaft or oil seals are placed between moving and stationary pieces of machinery to ensure that contaminants, moisture, corrosive materials and abrasives do not damage the various components. They can also prevent unwanted mixing of fluids, including water and oil combining within a machine.
How are Oil Seals made?
First, an elastomer, most often nitrile, is vulcanised to a metal ring. This creates a stiffening effect that includes a specialised metal tension spring directly behind the sealing lip, keeping the oil seal firmly in place against the moving part.
Oil Seal Materials
There are many different materials used to manufacture oil seals.
Leather Oil Seals - Leather Seals, also known as Type L Oil Seals, are most common in components that are subject to dirt and poor lubrication. Since they come pre-lubricated and are able to absorb fluids, leather oil seals are able to provide sealing properties in conditions that synthetic rubber is unable to.
Synthetic Rubber Oil Seals - Styrene Butadiene Rubber oil seals, or just SBR oil seals, offer strong resistance to abrasions and lesions, making them an ideal seal for fast-moving machinery. With the ability to withstand extreme temperatures with its heat-aging qualities, they can be used in outdoor components. They are also seen as more cost-effective oil seals than natural rubber.
Nitrile Oil Seals - Nitrile oil seals, which is the commonly used term for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber seals, is a very good general-purpose option due to the flexibility of use across a variety of components. The resistance is strong against fats, hot water, gasoline, mineral oils, grease and animal oils, making them the most often-used oil seals. They do not have a wide temperature range, making them a poor choice for machinery that can see extreme changes in temperature.
Viton Oil Seals - A synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer, Viton is used to make oil seals that provide resistance in both high temperature, up to 250°C and low compression set components. They also offer a high resistance to chemicals and abrasions, so they can be used in elements that regularly interact with petroleum and solvents.
Polyacrylate Oil Seals - Mostly selected for automotive and transmission uses, polyacrylate seals are able to withstand fuel, oil, ozone, sunlight and weather when used. With cars exposed to all these different fluids and elements, they are the perfect choice. However, they should not be used in low temperatures, as their flexibility weakens when cold.
Silicone Oil Seals - Designed to absorb lubricants in order to lessen wear and friction, silicone rotary shafts also offer high thermal resistance and a large temperature range. But, they do not handle abrasions well or interact with oxidized oils.
PTFE Oil Seals - A relatively new and exciting oil seal, the use of polytetrafluoroethylene means that they can withstand dry or unlubricated operations. With a massive thermal range of -130ºC to +200ºC and a strong resistance to chemicals, they are considered to be the future of rotary shaft seals.
How to Choose the Right Oil Seal
There are several key factors to consider when you are selecting the oil seals for your next project to ensure that you protect your machinery from immediate and long-term damage.
Pressure - Many oil seals can only withstand low-pressure applications, so understanding the compression set of your components is key.
Temperature - Just like pressure, the temperature that your oil seal will be operating in must be known so that you can choose one that can withstand the heat or cold. PTFE have the widest range of temperature, making them useful for machines who can see usage in extreme weather or elements.
Shaft Speed - Considering the speed that the shaft will be moving, the runout, the housing bore and the type of oil being sealed is vital to making sure you select an oil seal that will not suffer from abrasions or spiralling.
Fluid Types - Various oil seals are able to withstand interactions with oils, fuels, grease, water and more. Knowing what type of fluid the rotary shaft seal will be in constant contact with will ensure the longevity of the seal and surrounding components.
Lubricant Amount - Seals will always perform best when lubricated, however in some machines there are more likely to be dry spells. For these cases, selecting a leather or PTFE seal will be beneficial, as both can operate with less lubrication than others.
If you require any assistance in discovering the factors that lead to the right oil seal choices, the Simply Seals Team is happy to assist you!
Find the right Oil Seal for your needs with Simply Seals!
With dozens of specifically-designed oil seals made from a variety of materials, it can be very difficult to understand the best choice for their machinery.
That is why the Totally Seals team is always available to assist you with choosing the correct style, material, and size of oil seal for everything from commercial machinery to hobby car building.
Contact us today to make sure that you select the proper rotary shaft seal that will protect your components and lead to a long, healthy life for all of your machines!
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