Gaskets and Gasketing - Buying Advice

Make sure that your supplier knows gasketing and applications, have your people trained in the installation and handling of gaskets. A good supplier should be able to ask the right questions before supplying a gasket for your application. Just because you have used a certain gasket before does not mean that it is the best one for your application.

Don't get driven by the gasket price and don't blame the gasket for failure of the assembly. Somebody has decided to use certain gasket there and somebody was trying to install it there to maintain the seal; was the joint designed for maintenance or for the assembly?

To verify the material offered, quality of the products and of course pricing & delivery time.

Demand the correct material and design, not cut from sheets, always insist on a moulded one.

Depending on the material, please make sure of the shelf life of the gaskets/gasket sheets..

Ensure that both mating surfaces are as parallel as possible. Also do not over-tighten.

Purchase price vs. cost of ownership can be two different numbers that never cross.

Check closely material compatability and temperature ranges.

Always consult the manufacturer before selecting a gasket

Determine which type of gasket;ie. Ring or Full Face

No much experience in this field. So basically, no.

Do your research. Do your own testing.

Know where the material comes from

Buy Flexitallic

MAYBE LATER.

Just because there was a certain type of gasket in the application does not mean that this is the best material and type of gasket for your application. Ask questions of your supplier and do not let price drive the purchase, cheap is not the best way to go to achieve reliability and leak free installation; a good supplier should have the ability to be cost effective yet give you the best material for your application. Proper sizing of gaskets and proper thickness is imperative for leak free application; there is a huge misconception that thicker is better and that is not the truth, in most applications where the flanges are in good condition and not warped, pitted, corroded or clean of debris, the thinner the gasket the better it will seal. It takes less load and torque to seal a thinner gasket than a thick one.

Make sure you understand your application. Choose a supplier who has engineering service backing him up. Give the supplier's engineer ALL the info you know about the installation, ESPECIALLY what hasn't worked in the past.

Recognize the fluid conditions, the design of the assembly, the time in between failures, access to the assembly and the control of the clamping forces maintaining the seal; use thin gaskets.

Check for any byproducts it gives you when heated. The one we used gave away some unknown brown fumes when heated initially, later reduced as time passed by.

1. User to verify the filler material in spiral wound gaskets 2. To verify correct type of gasket for the required application

Maximum operating pressure, filler material, inner ring/outer ring materials, piping spec etc. all to be considered.

Check the material and type of flanges from which load is coming on gasket.

Get all the data;ie. Size, temperature, application, media & pressure

Understand the principals of gland sizing; depth and width.

Conduct a hydro test before selecting a gasket

Cost is not always relevant to function.

Oil service requires special gaskets

Don't make it personal