What Are The 9 Most Common Types of Gaskets?

Gaskets are an essential component of various objects and devices. They create a strong barrier and seal between two conjoining surfaces to prevent leaks under tight compressions. Gaskets can be used for a wide variety of applications, such as piping, vehicles, electronics, medical devices and more. There are many distinct types of gaskets, however, we break down the most common ones.

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1. Envelope Gasket

An envelope gasket, also known as a double jacketed gasket, is a composite gasket in which PTFE is wrapped around a core insert material. The main benefit of this type of gasket is that it provides the strength and characteristics of the core material while also benefiting from the strength and characteristics of PTFE. This type of gasket can withstand elevated temperatures and has anti-corrosive qualities.

2. Flat Metal Gasket

A flat metal gasket can be fabricated to suit any required configuration. With proper bolting, this type of gasket is effective and economical especially on flanges with concentric serrations. Flat metal gaskets offer exceptional mechanical strength, heat conductivity, and high pressures.

3. Non-Asbestos Sheet Material Gasket

As the name would suggest, non-asbestos sheet material gaskets are those that are cut from sheet materials that do not contain asbestos. Non-asbestos materials are considered the most reliable option for sealing flanges, and they can be used in a wide variety of applications. Since the 1980’s non-asbestos materials have replaced asbestos as the industry standard. Aramid, fiberglass, mineral fiber, carbon, and graphite are commonly replaced fibers for asbestos.

4. Ring Type Joint Gasket

A ring type joint gasket, also known as an RTJ gasket, is a precision-machined metal gasket. This type of gasket is designed to fit a grooved chamber on a flange face. RTJ gaskets are widely used in refinery, petrochemical, and oil field drilling applications.

5. Kammprofile Gasket

Kammprofile gaskets, which are also known as Kamprofile, Camprofile, or Grooved gaskets) are gaskets that have a metal core bonded with a soft filler material on both sides. After one of these gaskets is installed, the soft non-metallic filler gets inserted into the metal core serrated grooved. Graphite or PTFE are the most often used non-metallic fillers in these gaskets. These gaskets are a great option in high pressure and high-temperature environments and are suitable for use with highly corrosive fluid joints.

6. Spiral Wound Gasket with an Inner Ring

The spiral wound gasket is categorized as semi-metallic and is most often used in high-pressure applications. This type of gasket is often chosen because it offers good recovery tolerance for irregularities in the flange-surface finish. The sealing action of this type of gasket is owed to the flow of the metal and soft fillers when the gasket is compressed. Spiral wound gaskets with an inner ring are well suited for applications that experience extremes in temperature, shock, vibrations, or pressure cycling.

7. Spiral Wound Gasket Without an Inner Ring

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Spiral wound gaskets without an inner ring have the same categorization, semi-metallic, as the spiral wound gasket with the inner ring. This type of gasket offers good recovery tolerance and tolerates irregularities in the flange surface finish. Spiral wound gaskets without an inner ring are well suited to applications with elevated temperatures or temperature fluctuations but may not perform well where vibration is an issue. Depending on the material used, spiral wound gaskets offer great sealing in a variety of applications.

8. Corrugated Metal Gasket

Corrugated metal gaskets are reliable and cost-effective gaskets for use with flanges and heads where bolt loading is adequate. The sealing effect of this type of gasket is produced by the constant load to which the gasket is exposed. This gasket is used in a variety of applications as they are capable of withstanding harsh environments such as those in steam transfers or hydrocarbon.

9. Rubber Sheet Material Gaskets

This type of gasket is punched or cut to shape from industrially manufactured rubber sheets made from an industrially produced rubber. Rubber sheet material gaskets offer excellent resilience or adaptation, are a good sealing material but offer limited temperature resistance.

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