The Importance of Gaskets
Gaskets are used to create a pressure tight seal between two pieces of jointed equipment. These components are all around us- in our cars, our food storage, and even some electronics. Gaskets prevent contaminants like dirt, oil, and debris from entering a system where they’re not wanted, and prevent leaks from creeping out into the open. So, what makes a good gasket?
A gasket needs the following features to perform properly. First, it must be able to maintain a degree of flexibility. To account for natural variations in the contact surfaces of the pieces it’s joining, a gasket needs to be able to flex to fill in small gaps. This also allows the gasket to act as a sound or vibration dampener in some cases. Second, a gasket must have some kind of abrasion resistance. As they are commonly subjected to repeated or sustained pressure, they must have enough toughness to withstand physical stressors. The same goes for chemical wear; gaskets cannot degrade easily due to chemical contact as that would defeat their entire purpose. Lastly, a gasket must be durable enough to maintain its properties over a range of temperatures and an extended period of time.
Rubber Gaskets
Rubber is a commonly used gasket material, but there are a few key areas where it simply falls flat. The issues begin early on during the manufacturing stage. While the hardness of rubber can be adjusted to suit different applications, it loses stability as that hardness is changed. This instability tied to adjusting its durometer means that a rubber gasket is more likely to fail overall when compared to urethanes. It also has a smaller range of customization than urethanes do, so benefits of rubber remain minimal while the risk of failure is increased. Next, rubber typically has to be machined or ground into the desired shape; these operations add to the overall cost of producing gaskets in both manufacturing costs and time spent. Rubber is not a very durable material either. Rubber parts, including gaskets, typically display marring properties- meaning they leave small but visible traces of material on some surfaces when pressure is applied to them. This is especially bad for gasket applications, where maintaining pressure between two pieces without wear is one of its main functions. Lastly, being an organically derived material means that rubber degrades over time. It is especially subject to rot and dry out, especially with extended exposure to heat, extreme weather, or exposure to abrasive chemicals.
Polyurethane Gaskets
An alternative material to rubber is polyurethane. As far as gasket applications go, polyurethane has some of the best qualities available. To begin with, polyurethane gaskets can be very easily manufactured in a variety of ways. Some prefer to have a polyurethane sheet which gaskets can be die cut from. During manufacturing these sheets can even be prepared with a mold release to ease the die cutting process- or not, if an adhesive is to be added to the gaskets later on. Other gaskets are simply produced in a ring shape, ready to be used right off the manufacturing line. Urethane’s high abrasion resistance is another factor which makes it the preferred choice for gaskets. It is also incredibly resistant to external physical stimuli such as changes in temperature or pressure. This durability is maintained even when the durometer of polyurethane is adjusted- a huge advantage over rubber as a gasket material. Due to its high abrasion resistance, polyurethane doesn’t leave traces of material the same way that rubber does either. On the flip side, urethanes also possess great chemical resistance to oils and solvents. Since the seal created by a gasket is meant to maintain pressure within a system and prevent leaks, urethane is especially useful as a gasket material in industrial, marine, automotive, and aerospace applications. Lastly, being so easily manufactured and resistant to wear means that polyurethane is consistently more cost-effective than rubber. It performs better and lasts longer, making it the clear choice for gaskets across all industries.
Gaskets at PSI Urethanes
Urethane gaskets manufactured by PSI Urethanes are top of the line. While there is a set of standard features available to choose from, gaskets can also be customized with properties to perfectly suit any sort of application. Gaskets can be formulated to be ether or ester based; ether based works best for applications involving water, while ester based polyurethanes are more resistant to chemical solvents. Gasket material can even be formulated to meet FDA Wet and FDA Dry standards for food processing applications. Temperature resistance can be customized too. Urethanes can be formulated to withstand extreme temperatures to remain flexible down to -90°F, or maintain its properties up to as high as 250°F. This can be especially useful in automotive and aerospace industries where high temperature ranges are the norm. Tight tolerances are no issue either, as urethane sheets for gasket cutting can be made within a tolerance of as small as ±0.001″ upon request. Sheets can be made with or without mold release backings on one or both sides. If a sheet isn’t exactly right for the job, gaskets can be cut from urethane tubes or custom molded in-house. Even aesthetic features like color can be selected.
Whatever your project needs may be, PSI Urethanes can make the right gaskets for you. Contact us today to speak with an expert and make the switch.
ABOUT PSI URETHANES
Since 1966, through our own independent research and activity in the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, PSI Urethanes has stayed on the leading edge of urethane technology – including developing advances in new materials, comprehensive designs, and processing technologies. Today we are among the most respected and trusted suppliers of custom polyurethane products.
We operate from our 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, which houses an extensive stock of polyurethane products. Our fully equipped manufacturing facility includes a versatile range of processing machinery, which allows us to work on unique, one-of-a-kind projects, as well as high volume components. Our in-house engineering, tooling, and custom mold shop, produces custom and stock production orders with exceptionally fast turn-around times. From conception to prototyping, to final production runs, our technical representatives and design engineers will work closely with your staff to meet your critical tolerances and specifications. You are guaranteed to receive experienced, professional, and personalized service from the first contact through your on-time delivery, with complete confidentiality and dedication to protecting your good name.
PSI Urethanes specializes in custom polyurethane products. If you are interested in utilizing urethane products as a spill control solution, contact us today to see how we can help with your next project, or give us a call at 1-800-888-5156.