High-Temperature Gaskets and Why They’re Important — Can Your Project Stand the Heat?
When you’re working with extreme high temperatures, flames, steam, hot oils, exhaust or combustible fluids, you need a seal you can trust. Using the right gasket, tape or material can be the difference between the success or failure of your equipment.
Over time, high temperatures can gradually degrade and deteriorate some common gasket materials causing leakage which in turn can lead to downtime, and maybe even shutdowns. Expert Gasket & Seal can help you avoid these situations by finding the right material for your high temperature sealing needs.
We understand “high-temperature” is a relative term. If your application is below 500° F, there are several great rubber materials to consider, like:
Heat Resistant Gasket Materials
Silicone: With a superior temperature range from -75° F to 450° F, silicone good choice when the material will not be exposed to acids, alkalis, superheated steam (over 250 degrees F), aromatic hydrocarbons and certain fuels.
Viton®: An excellent choice for high temperature applications up to 400° F, Viton® has superior resistance to many chemicals, including acids, fuels, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons and not flammable hydraulic fluids.
EPDM: Considered the best rubber gasket for steam and hot water applications (up to 350° F), EPDM is capable of handling steam temperatures up to 400° F. Although EPDM is not compatible with petroleum-based fluids, it can handle many Glycol-based fluids up to 300° F.
Perfluoroelastomers: Most commonly available in O-rings, perfluoroelastomers, often known as Kalrez® or Parofluor®, are heat resistant up to 600° F and handle a wider array of chemicals than Viton®. However, they are very expensive and come in limited shapes and sizes.
If your application involves higher temperatures, up to or exceeding 750 degrees, you should consider other materials to enhance and extend your seal’s performance. Some considerations include:
Graphite: A natural mineral, graphite has thermal and electrical conductivity like metal and is resistant up to 875° F.
Compressed non-asbestos: An asbestos-free fiber made from synthetic fibers and an elastomeric binder, compressed non-asbestos gaskets provide improved torque retention, lowered emission levels and can handle temperatures up to 750° F.
Spiral wound gaskets: A low-cost solution, spiral wound gaskets are semi-metallic, consisting of multiple layers of metal and a filler that may include ceramic, graphite or PTFE. Spiral wound gaskets are suitable for temperatures up to 850° F.
PTFE: Polytetrafluoroethylene is a reliable polymer material that can resist strong industrial chemicals and withstand temperatures above 500° F for extended periods.
Commercial Grade Fabrics: For the most demanding applications with extreme high temperatures, consider premium fiberglass cloth, rope, tape, and tadpole tapes with temperature ratings up to 1000° F or ceramic fiber papers, some with temp limits of 2300° F. Used in furnace linings, casting blow off tables, molten metal or anywhere you need to protect product and parts from high temperature or molten materials.
While it is important to consider high-temperature materials, there are many other factors to consider when selecting the most suitable gasket for your application, like the medium, system pressure and exposure conditions. The experts at Expert Gasket & Seal will work with you to identify these factors and help you choose the right materials and products for your project.