November 30, 2020 Gasket History 101

The roles and evolution of gaskets over the last 50 years.

Over the years, the demand for gaskets has increased. Every technological innovation helps solve people’s problems. However, more challenges, especially leakages, are created that raises the need to use gaskets.

Since all innovations are unique, the sealing required is in different forms. For this reason, manufacturers have design gaskets that fit the demand in the market constantly. The shapes, sizes, and materials used to produce these gaskets differ. Consequently, a gasket company has the privilege to choose production to specialize in.

To give you a better understanding, we have done in-depth research on gaskets’ roles and evolution. This article gives you all the information you need to know about this topic.

Let’s jump in!

The Roles of Gaskets

From the time the first gasket was manufactured, the roles have changed depending on demand. Some of the gaskets’ roles have become absolute with more technological innovations. Other roles have been amplified.

Some of the current roles include sealing various surfaces, mounting display devices, preventing environmental leaks, and sealing against destructive vibrations.

The Role of Gaskets in Sealing

There are different types of liquid that leak into the environment when containers and pipes are carelessly sealed. Efficient sealing requires the use of chemical-resistant gaskets. Whenever you store a liquid in a container, either for transportation or storage, make sure that you completely seal it.

The commonly used gaskets for sealing liquid containers and pipes are rubber gaskets. However, it’s best to consider the acidity level of the liquid you are working with. Some liquids have the power to pass through metal or other gasket manufacturing materials.

For example, whenever you transport or store oil and other fuel types, it would be best if you used a rubber gasket made of a material such as Viton rubber.

Another application of liquid sealing is in toilet water pumps. The gasket you use should be flexible such that when performing basic maintenance, removing and replacing the gasket is easy. The material chosen does not have to be as chemical resistant as that of fuel tanks.

Role of Gaskets in Contamination Prevention

Numerous contamination agents are present in the environment we live in. These contaminants have the potential to destroy property. To avoid loss and damage of equipment, gaskets are used to seal rooms and containers.

Dust is one of these contaminants and attaches itself easily to a wide range of equipment. When you store this equipment in a room, keep dust away by sealing the door using a foam gasket. This practice will ensure that when you need to use your stored tools, you will retrieve them uncontaminated.

There are electrical outlets in your home, office, or even vehicles that need sealing using gaskets. For instance, the electrical outlets may attract dust that flows through pipes allocated for wiring.

Over time this dust may accumulate, and when mixed with moisture that also gets into the outlet, a small barrier may be created, resulting in faulty switches and sockets. If you had used gaskets to seal these outlets, the contaminants wouldn’t have accumulated, meaning you would have saved money used for replacing the damaged sockets and switches.

Gaskets Used for Anti-vibration

When vibrations are not stopped or unmonitored, properties end up getting destroyed, and energy gets lost. Vibration is from sound and has a frequency; the higher the frequency, the higher the vibration. But there is a solution to the vibration where you seal it using an anti-vibration pad gasket.

The anti-vibration gasket pad can be used on structures and heavy mounted machinery. The gaskets hold the objects or structure in position. This reduces energy loss when vibration occurs.

Gaskets in Mountings

With the advancement in technology, the modern world is using digital displays to advertise. In advertising, you must ensure the advert is mounted in a strategic position. Apart from that, televisions and other displays are mounted in homes and vehicle walls.

To mount all those objects, gaskets are needed. It is used to protect the objects from dust, harsh weather, and other conditions that might destroy the object and, in return, saves a lot of money that could have been used to replace the advertising objects.

Apart from that, gaskets are also used in protecting access ways that house components like the house electrical. The gasket can be used to seal them and protect them from getting destroyed by water and sun.

Evolution of Gaskets over the Last 50 Years

Gasket technology has been there now for more than a century. Over the years, it has gone through changes to make it better and efficient than what we have now. Elkem Silicones has come up with new changes and technology to unlit what we see today.

But before we get there, let’s see where the gasket started to understand the whole process and what it is today.

By 1960 gaskets were available, but they were made from thin layers of corks. Installing these gaskets was difficult since the workers had to assemble the cork to a product line.

From cork gaskets, manufacturers opted for coated gaskets in the form of paper. The problem with copper gaskets is they were rigid, and installing them on a flat surface was hard and stressful. For the gasket to be installed, workers needed to make sure there was a certain level of roughness to perform under pressure.

In the 1980s, the first formed in place gasket (FIPG) based on liquid silicone elastomers were developed. This was way better compared to the other predecessors.

The FIPG silicone was used for the first time in Europe in car manufacturing by a manufacturer called RENAULT. But the German manufacturers didn’t adopt the liquid silicon until ten years later as they wanted to be cautious.

The FIPG has improved by implementing and increasing the adhesion on the silicon material depending on the part silicone is being applied.

Silicon had increased adhesion, it offered almost a perfect seal, but there was still a problem with the aftermarket. There was always a need to repair a place where the silicone was placed.

The good thing modern technology has helped solve the issue, and there is almost no need to disassemble the engine parts. This advancement and reliability are from the FIPG. Its adhesion property and temperature resistance have seen it prevent all kinds of leakage from oil to many more.

With the silicone advancement, car manufacturers and building constructors can enjoy a reliable gasket and can withstand extreme temperature levels.

Final verdict

To sum up, gaskets are must-have assets in almost all industries. Whether it is mounting a display screen, avoiding contamination, stopping leakage, or block vibrations, gaskets will help you save a lot of money.

Invest in gaskets that fit the specific purpose. Otherwise, using inappropriate gaskets will only lead to more loss. You can consult a gasket specialist for professional advice on the best gasket to buy.

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