Gasket

Gasket

A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into the joined objects while under compression. Gaskets allow for "less-than-perfect" mating surfaces on machine parts where they can fill irregularities. Gaskets are commonly produced by cutting from sheet materials.

Materials

Gaskets are normally made from a flat material, a sheet such as paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, neoprene, nitrile rubber, fiberglass, polytetrafluoroethylene (otherwise known as PTFE or Teflon) or a plastic polymer (such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene).

Types of Gaskets

Gaskets can be classified in many ways, for example by material, by function, or by application. Some of the most common types of gaskets are:

• Sheet Gaskets - These are simple and versatile. They are used in a wide range of applications, from household uses to industrial settings.
• Solid Material Gaskets - These are used for high pressure, high temperature applications where the gasket must withstand extreme conditions.
• Spiral Wound Gaskets - These are used for high pressure and high temperature applications. They are made by winding a metal strip and a filler material into a spiral shape.
• Ring Gaskets - These are used in oil and gas production, as well as in the petrochemical industry.

Applications

Gaskets are used in a wide variety of applications, including, but not limited to:

• Piping and plumbing - Gaskets are used in piping systems to prevent leaks.
• Engines - In engines, gaskets are used to seal the cylinder head to the engine block.
• Electronics - In electronics, gaskets can be used to prevent dust, dirt, and moisture from entering a device.

See Also

• Seal (mechanical)
• O-ring
• Packing (mechanical)

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