News & Tech Tips

Selecting Custom Foam/Sponge Gaskets

Greencrest Digital on October 21, 2021

The most common sponge gasket is a closed-cell rubber blend material. This material is reasonably resilient, has moderately good recovery, and is inexpensive. It can be provided plain, or with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side. Closed-cell sponges are available in a variety of elastomers for a wide range of applications. These materials work well in many situations, particularly those that have a constant squeeze on the gasket material.

Applications with alternating squeeze, such as doors that open and close, will benefit from using microcellular urethanes as gaskets. These materials exhibit almost zero compression set, have superior recovery, and are well suited for gaskets that have variable loads. They are particularly useful for electrical boxes and enclosures, and are available in UL listed grades for such applications. These materials, while somewhat more costly, out-perform typical closed-cell blended sponges where a seal must be maintained under imperfect seating conditions. They, too, can be provided plain or with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing.

We stock a variety of sponge gasket materials, including Poron® and Griswold microcellular urethanes. Please contact us to discuss your application and be provided with a cost-effective solution for your sealing problem.

What is Flashcutting, and how does it help to provide rapid prototypes?

Greencrest Digital on October 19, 2021

Flashcutting is a technology that allows Expert Gasket to prototype and cut custom designed gaskets and rubber parts within a short time frame. Flash cutting is newer technology that skips the hassle of using tooling and dies, which can take days to weeks to complete.

Expert Gasket & Seal’s die-less Flashcut gasket fabrication utilizes a computer-controlled, high-speed knife cutting system that produces precise, close tolerance parts on non-metallic materials without the need for tooling. Because the machine is computer controlled and does not require custom tooling, this allows for very quick production of prototypes.

What are the Benefits of Flashcutting?

  • Flash cutting requires no tooling to fabricate parts.
  • Prototypes can be created from ready-to-produce .dxf CAD files or scanned to model an existing product into a .dxf file.
  • If changes need to be made, dimensions can be rapidly modified for prototyping from multiple thicknesses and materials.
  • Flashcutting is effective for both short run and long run manufacturing with the system we use.
  • Flashcut manufacturing and prototyping uses less material deflection for rubber and soft materials, resulting in more precise products and tighter tolerances.
  • The Flashcut computer also nests parts much more effectively, which increases material yield and reduces part cost more than manual die cutting.=

The end result is a fast turnaround, nimble prototyping process with the ability to make changes that would not be feasible with the standard tool and die manufacturing process.

For gasket and rubber product production, this means Expert Gasket can provide more precise products to our partners and clients and do it quickly to prevent downtime and bottlenecks.

Materials Used In Flashcut Manufacturing

Our Flashcut machine works with a wide range of materials. The primary constraint is that Flashcut production does not work to cut metals. Some of the materials we cut from include:

  • Rubber
  • PTFE
  • Sponge
  • And many other non-asbestos materials used in gaskets and seals

Prototype Gaskets From Product Samples

Along with our Flashcutting technology, we utilize a high-tech scanning tool that allows us to make scans of current products and build computerized models from those scans. This allows us to replicate existing parts for customers who do not have a CAD file, tooling or drawing.

To learn more about how our Flashcut technology can produce precision parts for your organization, contact Expert Gasket today at (330) 468-0066!

Choosing Basic Compressed Gasket Materials

Greencrest Digital on September 20, 2021

There are several types of compressed gasket materials from which we fabricate gaskets, or provide the sheet for those wanting to make their own.

The most commonly used material we offer is Durlon® 8500, a green colored NBR binder/Aramid-Inorganic fiber compressed sheet.  Durlon® 8500 is excellent in steam, natural gas, and many petroleum based fluids, and covers a temperature range of -100 to 700ºF, with a continuous max of 548ºF.  For much of the same types of service, we offer a less costly alternate, Durlon® 7900.  Durlon® 7900 is an off-white colored NBR binder/Aramid fiber sheet with a max continuous temperature of 400º and is appropriate when service conditions are less severe.

For higher temperature steam and hot water service, we recommend Durlon® 8600, a white colored SBR binder/Aramid-Inorganic fiber sheet with a termperature range of -100 to 700ºF with a continuous max of 548ºF.

When a wider pH range is required, Durlon® 8400, a gold colored NBR binder/Phenolic fiber sheet is the logical choice.  Durlon® 8400 has a temperature range of -100 to 800ºF, with a continuous max temperature of 554ºF.   Durlon® 8400 is excellent in chemical, pulp and paper, and other industrial applications.

With the highest continuous max temperature of 600ºF, Durlon® 8300 should be considered for steam and hydrocarbon services in refining, petrochemical, and power generation industries.  Durlon® 8300, black in color, and with a NBR binder/Carbon fiber system, has a temperature range of -100 to 800ºF.

Durlon® 8700, blue in color, a CR (neoprene) binder/Aramid-Inorganic fiber sheet has the same temperature range as Durlon® 8500, but is used for refrigerants and other service requiring a neoprene binder.

There are many factors for each gasket application to consider before choosing a compressed gasket material.  Some of those include system pressure, media, temperature range, flange material and condition, flange design, and bolting.

Please contact Expert Gasket & Seal for additional assistance with your application.

Choosing Superior Durlon® PTFE Gasket Materials

Greencrest Digital on September 20, 2021

There are several types of superior Durlon® PTFE gasket materials from which we fabricate gaskets, or provide the sheet for those wanting to make their own.

Durlon® filled PTFE materials are not constructed like typical skived PTFE.  Because of their unique construction, using variously shaped fillers blended with pure PTFE resin, Durlon® PTFE does not wick or cause flange corrosion.  These proprietary materials maintain a tighter seal, and have a higher bolt torque retention than other filled or conventional PTFE gasket materials.

Our most popular style is Durlon® 9000 (blue color) and Durlon® 9000N (white color).  Both of these materials are FDA compliant, are certified for Oxygen service, and are listed in “Pamphlet 95” of the Chlorine Institute as an acceptable material for chlorine service.  Durlon® 9000 and Durlon® 9000N are commonly used for gaskets in the chemical, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries.

Another style is Durlon® 9200W, a barium sulfate filled FDA compliant PTFE is commonly used in the pulp and paper, chemcial, and other industries where resistance to aggressive chemicals is required.

Durlon® 9400 is a carbon filled FDA compliant PTFE designed for use in tankcars and chemcial plants in applications using hydrofluoric acid and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride where Durlon® 9200W is not suitable.

Durlon® 9600 is an expanded FDA compliant PTFE designed to seal at lower bolt loads.  This material, which is softer than the other Durlon® PTFE formulas, conforms easily to flanges that may be warped, pitted, or otherwise have imperfect surfaces.  Durlon® 9600 is ideal for plastic flanges using lower bolt loads, but still needing to provide a positive seal against aggressive chemicals.

These materials, designed specifically for gaskets and providing superior sealing over conventional PTFE sheets, should be considered your first choice when choosing a PTFE gasket.

Please contact Expert Gasket & Seal for additional assistance with your application.

Choosing a Rubber Compound for High Temperature Gasket Applications

Greencrest Digital on September 20, 2021

There are several rubber gasket compounds for use in elevated temperature applications.  There are, as usual, many things to evaluate before selecting the proper material.

Besides the temperature range, the fluid (or media), system pressure, and exposure conditions need to be considered.  Those factors will affect the final choice, but this brief overview will highlight temperature limits.

For applications where the rubber material will not be exposed to acids, alkalis, superheated steam (over 250ºF), aromatic hydrocarbons, and certain fuels, Silicone is a good choice for the gasket you will using.  Silicone has a superior temperature range, generally remaining flexible from -75ºF to + 450ºF, and is the compound of choice for hot, dry air gasket applications.

Viton®, while not a very good compound for low temperatures, is an excellent choice in high temperature gasket applications up to approximately 400ºF.  Viton® has superior resistance to a wide variety of chemicals, including many acids, fuels, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and non-flammable hydraulic fluids.  All of the Viton® gaskets we supply are made from genuine DuPont material; not a generic FKM.

EPDM is the best rubber gasket material for steam and hot water applications to 350ºF, with some EPDM materials capable of handling temperatures in steam to 400ºF.  EPDM is not compatible with petroleum based fluids, but can handle many Glycol based fluids to 300ºF.

Perfluoroelastomers handle a wider range of chemicals than Viton®, but most commonly are available only as O-rings.  Perfluoroelastomers (the most commonly known is Kalrez®) generally are heat resistant to 600ºF, but due to their extreme expense, and limited shape and size availability, should be considered only when the application cannot be sealed with another material.

When temperatures exceed the limits noted above, it is likely a material other than rubber will be needed.

Please contact Expert Gasket & Seal for additional assistance with your application.

Expert Gasket & Seal Offering Solutions to Sealing Challenges with Custom Gaskets

Greencrest Digital on September 12, 2021

Cleveland, OH-based experts for dynamic sealing products, Expert Gasket & Seal have recently announced that they’re now offering a wide range of custom gaskets. The company’s custom gasket manufacturing services will provide clients with clear sealing solutions for industrial applications where specific performance parameters must be met to ensure cost-efficiency, safety and productivity.

Industrial manufacturing firms require sealing products that have been tested to meet many standards and specifications for their applications. This means that firms must consult with sealing specialists and find the best materials from which to create custom gaskets. Only a company with years of experience in the sealing marketplace can be trusted to provide a pinpoint solution to an array of issues. This is the reason that firms are now turning to the specialists at Expert Gasket & Seal.

Expert Gasket & Seal is now offering their expertise for creating high performance custom gaskets for a range of industrial applications. The company’s standout work begins with the creation or prototypes and ensures that clients and their objectives are a continued presence through the design and fabrication processes. The company’s team works tirelessly to help clients resolve core working challenges and provide cost-effective gasket products for seamless integration within the client’s systems. It’s the professional sealing system design process for companies with complex demands.

To learn more on the custom gaskets now offered through Expert Gasket & Seal, please contact their offices in Cleveland, OH directly today or visit www.expertgasket.com.

Tips for Designing the Right Gasket

Greencrest Digital on June 21, 2021

When it comes to gaskets, there are so many different materials and designs out there, choosing the best one for your application isn’t always plain and simple. Since gaskets are mechanical seals that are designed to be airtight and prevent contaminants from entering your important equipment, you need to be precise when designing them.

As one of the leading manufacturers of custom rubber gaskets in Ohio, the team from Expert Gasket & Seal wants to make things a bit easier on you. So, here you’ll find some of the most important things to consider when designing your gaskets.

Key Considerations for Custom Gasket Design

Materials

Before beginning any of the real design work, you’ll first need to decide upon what type of material you want your custom gaskets fashioned from. When looking over the different options at your disposal, pay close attention to characteristics such as hardness, density, and elasticity. These properties will play a large role in the performance of your gasket and should never be overlooked.

Some of the most common gasket manufacturing materials include:

  • Neoprene / Chloroprene rubber: This is a synthetic rubber compound that’s both durable and resists damage from exposure to UV radiation, ozone,  and refrigerants.  . Another benefit of neoprene is that it remains flexible in a temperature range of -40° C-120° C.
  • Nitrile: Nitrile is a synthetic rubber used in a wide range of applications, but most commonly where the gaskets are exposed to petroleum based fluids.
  • Silicone: One of the most versatile gasket materials, silicone is available in everything from solid to sponge form and is excellent in temperatures to +232° C.  Silicone is typically FDA compliant and is used in food service and pharmaceutical applications.

Gasket Design

After deciding on the right material for your gasket, you’ll then need to consider what type of design you’d like it to have. Of course, the end design will depend upon what application you’llbe using it for, but you’ll need to design its shape, as well as consider its cross-section and thickness.

Application Environment

Lastly, consider what type of environment your gaskets will be installed in. What type of wear and tear and operating temperatures do you expect? Will there be any chemicals present? Answering these questions will help you make certain your finished gasket is both well-designed, as well as durable.

Contact us for custom rubber gaskets in Ohio

For more about our custom rubber gaskets, seals, and other products, contact us online today or call (330) 468-0066 or 1 (800) 956-8766.

Choosing gaskets: Are FDA gaskets necessary for your business?

Greencrest Digital on June 12, 2021

Because the Food and Drug Administration oversees the safety of the food processing and pharmaceutical industry, it’s important that FDA gaskets are used in any business in these fields. Not only will this ensure that your company is in line with industry standards and best practices by consistently producing high quality goods, it also ensures that your products are produced safely at your facility and pose no risk to the consumer.

As you can see, there are no downsides for using these products – only benefits! And when you partner with Expert Gasket & Seal, you’ll get affordable FDA gaskets made exactly to order. Because we fabricate our gaskets on-site, we provide small and large quantities in short lead times.

Our regular customers for FDA gaskets include:

  • Food processing businesses
  • The beverage industry – beer, spirits, soft drinks, filtered water and fruit juices
  • The dairy industry
  • Meat packing facilities
  • Pharmaceutical production companies

Our FDA gaskets are all made of materials that are generally regarded as safe (including Nitrile, EPDM, Neoprene, PTFE, Durlon 9000, Durlon 9600 and Durlon 9200W), are chemically compatible and can function in temperatures from -50F to 500F.

With over 50 years combined experience in the business and a reputation for exceptional customer service and no-nonsense expertise, you can trust us with your FDA gasket needs.  Contact us in Cleveland, Ohio, today for more information.

Why Quality & Consistency Is So Important With Custom Gaskets

Greencrest Digital on May 21, 2021

Quality rubber gaskets create leak tight seals using rubber’s natural memory to minimize the chance of unwanted leaks. They also need to have the correct compound chosen to resist extreme temperatures, pressure, and a variety of fluids and gases.  That’s why so many trust their custom gasket creation to Expert Gasket & Seal.

However, we wanted to let you know more about why we place such an emphasis on quality, so take a look below!

  • Saves on Time & Money: One of the top reasons that quality and consistency when creating custom gaskets is essential, is because it makes the process much quicker and reduces waste.  Expert Gasket & Seal can provide prototypes at low or no cost to properly evaluate your design and possible changes.
  • Enhanced Efficiency: In custom gasket design, precision is the penultimate goal. It needs to perfectly match the application for which it’s designed. This creates gaskets that are less likely to fail, and you can design your custom gaskets for optimal efficiency. You’ll find less need to replace properly designed gaskets.
  • Outstanding Quality: Having a gasket fail during operating hours can be a real nightmare. Thankfully, custom gaskets drastically reduce that scenario since they are properly spec’d and designed for your specific application.  Custom gaskets are designed with all of your exact needs and specifications, as well as your gasket performance expectations.  A professional and knowledgeable company will create custom gaskets of unmatched quality.
  • Flexible for Every Industry: Another great thing about working with custom gasket designers is they have experience designing gaskets for every type of industry you can imagine. For those needing gaskets that will withstand the extreme conditions of chemical processing plants or the specific materials and requirements of FDA applications,  custom gaskets are an absolute must.

Contact us today for more about custom gaskets, seals, and more!

For those in need of custom gaskets that are built to your exact specifications, contact the team from Expert Gasket online today or call (330) 468-0066. We also specialize in mechanical seals, braided packing and hydraulic seals, and more!

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Custom Gasket Manufacturer

Greencrest Digital on April 21, 2021

When you work with a custom gasket manufacturer, make sure that they’ll be capable of manufacturing precisely what is needed. That’s why the team from Expert Gasket works with all of our clients to assure we’re clear about their needs, expectations, and the type of performance required from their custom gaskets.

Here are some of the most important things to look for when choosing a custom gasket manufacturer.

1. Variety of Materials Offered

A reliable custom gasket manufacturer will have a variety of gasket materials from which to provide the correct product for your application. Such materials include Neoprene, Viton®, Durlon®, PTFE, and more.

2. Technical Experience

Choosing a gasket provider with extensive industry experience will assure that your custom gaskets will meet the specified requirements. Gasket manufacturers with a long history in the industry will know what works best for different and challenging sealing applications.

3. Safety Features

Any custom gasket manufacturer you work with should also adhere to the strictest safety precautions at every step of the way, from the design and development process to the manufacturing of the gaskets themselves. Make certain you work with a manufacturer familiar with all of today’s latest best practices that also strictly follows local laws and guidelines.

4. Customer Support

This is, perhaps, one of the most important characteristics of any gasket manufacturer. How they handle their relationships with clients is a direct reflection of the products that they produce. Choose a provider that offers support and prompt service for the best results.

5. Competitive Pricing

It’s no secret that running an industrial firm, water processing plant, or another type of enterprise-level industrial facility is a costly endeavor. That doesn’t mean they always require costly gaskets and seal products.  A knowledgable custom gasket manufacturer, like Expert Gasket & Seal, will recommend a cost-effective solution for your seal problem.

Let us be your custom gasket manufacturer!

Are you in need of quality, custom gaskets, and mechanical seals that are enduring? Contact Expert Gasket online today to learn more about our services or call (330) 468-0066.