Rubber Gasket Materials and Gaskets

Rubber gaskets and material are used in industry for a wide range of industrial, automotive and OEM applications.
The common denominator in rubber gaskets is they have 100% recovery. Gaskets can be compressed and recovery to their original shape. 

Whether it is Nitrile, Neoprene, Buna, EPDM, SBR, Viton, Aflas or Natual, all are often referred to as rubber gaskets.

rubber gaskets

Rubber Gaskets and Materials – Rubber is arguably the most common gasket material used, (especially nitrile gasket material) and is available in numerous different styles and compounds. A compound is a blend of different rubbers and fillers. Rubber is undoubtedly the most important class of materials when it comes to sealing. Generally used in the medium temperature range (-58°F to 240°F). Rubber material is especially useful because of its ability to quickly return to its original shape once any deforming stress or load is removed.
There are multiple different rubbers available with capabilities to satisfy applications. The most common are Nitrile (also called buna-nitrile or buna-n), EPDM, Red Rubber, SBR (styrene butyl rubber), Neoprene, Viton (FKM), and Aflas. A common characteristic of each type of rubber is that the effect of heat is cumulative and irreversible.So, temperature is a critical factor when selecting the rubber elastomer best for your application. Once hard from heat even nitrile gaskets will lose their recovery.
Do NOT allow the maximum temperature to exceed the recommended temperature range. Once they do the elastomeric characteristic is lost.  Rubber or elastomeric gasket materials are designed and provide a safety margin dependent on design service life. For simple gasket applications, we have numerous rubber gasket materials available. Most rubber materials are also available with a cellular structure in closed cell or open cell sponge or foam.

Choosing the correct rubber gasket material can be challenging. There are several different factors that play a role in choosing the best rubber. Contact the expert staff at American Seal and Packing for clarification of the differences between the types of rubber materials and to purchase your solution today. Most importantly consider the temperature, pressure, media being sealed, any chemical contact, abrasiveness, and application or function.

Nitrile Rubber (Buna-N)

Trade Names: Chemigum Hycar (Zeon (Goodyear) Chemical) Ny Syn (Copolymer) Paracril (Uniroyal) Krynac (Polysar) Perbunan (Mobay)

Because Nitrile rubber gaskets are compatible with oil and water, it is the most common rubber sheet used to produce gaskets. American Seal and Packing carries a variety of nitrile products to administer flexible solutions for several different fabrication projects. Nitrile has also been referred to as Buna-N, Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, and NBR. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene.

Nitrile has superb resistance to petroleum products. The physical and chemical properties of nitrile vary depending on the polymers’ composition of nitrile; therefore it creates uniqueness because this form of synthetic rubber typically wouldn’t be able to provide resistance against oil, fuel, and other chemicals.

Nitrile is often used in the automotive and aeronautical industries. It is useful to produce fuel and oil handling hoses, seals, gaskets, and groomets. Applications that require a broad temperature range are a perfect fit for nitrile (-40°F to 250°F). Nitrile has outstanding compression set, tear, and abrasion resistance. Nitrile possesses poor resistance to ozone, sunlight, or weather unless it has been specifically compounded to tolerate such exposures. Therefore, it is not recommended you store nitrile in direct sunlight or near motors / other electrical equipment that could generate ozone.

NITRILE RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Gases, Aliphatic Hydrocarbon, Oils and Fuels

NITRILE NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Ketones, Ozone, Sunlight, Aromatic Oil, Flame, Weather

Fluorocarbon (Viton, FKM, or Fluorel)

Flourocarbon rubber gasket material is a synthetic rubber and fluororpolymer elastomer. Fluorocarbon (Viton) is often used in O-Rings and other molded products. Fluorocarbon has been designed with an advanced elastomer developed to endure intense heat, oil, and chemical applications with supreme resistance.

This rubber gasket material holds capabilities to repel ailphalactic and halogenated hydrocarbons, concentrated acids, alkalis, animal, and vegetable oils. The clay fibers substituted for carbon black are prone to chemical attack; therefore we recommend you avoid colored (brown or green) grades.

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -20°F to 400°F

Preferred Durometer: 75 (Hardness Range Shore A 60 to 90)

Good compression set, tear, and abrasion resistance

FLUOROCARBON RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Acids, Hydrocarbons, Oils, Gasoline, Water, Heat, Fuels, Chemicals, Weather, Sunlight, Oxidation and Ozone.

FLUOROCARBON NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Ketones, Solvents, High pH Chemicals and Low Molecular Weight Carbonyls.

EPDM

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a variation of synthetic rubber. This rubber gasket material is an elastomer characterized by a broad range of applications. EPDM is a black plate finish sheet that has excellent resistance in applications with weathering, ozone, and UV.

EPDM has outstanding resistance with chemicals and its insulation properties allow it to perform well in electrical applications. It also tolerates ketones, ordinary diluted acids, and alkalines well. EPDM can also resist animal and vegetable oils, steam, water (hot and cold), and oxygenated solvents. Peroxide cured grades are preferred.

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -65°F to 300°F

Hardness Range (Durometer Shore A): 30 to 90

Good compression set, tear, and abrasion resistance.

EPDM RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Oxidation, Ozone, Sunlight, Abrasion, Fireproof Hydraulic Fluids, Water, and Alkalis

EPDM NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Kerosene, Hydrocarbons, and Solvents

Chloroprene (Neoprene)

Trade Names: Neoprene (E.l. duPont), Butachlor (Ditsugil), Bayprene (Mobay)

Neoprene, also known to be called polychloroprene or chloroprene rubber is part if the synthetic rubber family, created by the polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene is a great general-purpose rubber gasket material, and is popular for its high tensile strength among other great qualities. Neoprene receives high demandfor its excellent resilience, oil and flame resistance, and its ability to resist degradation by oxygen and ozone.

Neoprene is an excellent rubber gasket material because it showcases superb chemical stability and retains flexibility over a broad range. Neoprene is adequately resistant to petroleum products, and performs well with ozone and weather exposure. Neoprene is the perfect rubber gasket material for sealing refrigeration fluids such as Freon®.

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -65°F to 250°F

Hardness Range (Durometer Shore A): 15 to 95

Excellent compression set, tear, and abrasion resistance.

NEOPRENE RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Moderate Chemicals and Acids, Ozone, Oils, Fats, Greases, and Solvents

NEOPRENE NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Esters, Ketones, Chlorinated, Aromatic and Nitro Hydrocarbons

Silicone

Silicone gaskets and material are  composed of silicone (a polymer itself). Silicone is comprised of silicon mixed with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. An extremely versatile material, silicone is an excellent choice for a variety of applications and is developed with multiple formulations. Silicone rubber gasket material is typically non-reactive, stable, and offers excellent resistance in harsh environments where temperatures range from -80°F to 550°F.

Silicone provides high performance in UV, ozone, and fire resistance. Silicone material can be found in a broad variety of products because of its useful properties and ease to manufacture and shape. For more information on silicone rubber gasket material, contact the staff at American Seal and Packing today!

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -80°F to 450°F (Max. Service Temperature: 550°F)

Hardness Range (Durometer Shore A): 30 to 90

Excellent recovery rating

SILICONE RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Acid, Weather, Water, Sunlight, Ozone, Oxidation and Staining.

SILICONE NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Hydrocarbons, Ketones, Solvents, Impact and Abrasion.

SBR (Red Rubber)

SBR (Styrene Butadiene) is related to groups of synthetic rubber procured from styrene and butadiene. SBR materials offer good aging and abrasion resistance when guarded by additives. Roughly 1:2 automobile tires on the market are composed of various types of SBR. The styrene / butadiene composition engages the properties of the polymer: when styrene content is high, rubbers increase in hardness and are less rubbery.

SBR gasket material is great for low applications (i.e. washers and gaskets for the heating and plumbing trades). SBR is a low cost flange gasket material. It is a non-oil resistant compound that offers resistance to flow under compression. SBR provides moderate to good performance in low pressure applications. It can conform to uneven flange loads with ease.

*Do NOT confuse SBR with a thermoplastic elastomer produced from the same monomers, styrene-butadiene block copolymer.

Other Properties:

Temperature range: – 20°F to +180°F continuous/210°F intermittent.

Durometer: 75 ±10/-5

Tensile Strength: 400 PSI

Hardness Range (Durometer Shore A): 40 to 90

Color: Red

SBR RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Abrasion, Water, Moderate, Chemicals, Organic Acids, Alcohols, Ketones and Aldehydes

SBR NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Ozone, Sunlight, Strong Acids, Fats, Oils, Open Flame, Grease and Most Hydrocarbons

Aflas Rubber Gaskets

Aflas rubber gasket material is an elastomeric based fluororubber, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene. Use Aflas across a broad range of aggressive media to maximize its usefulness. Aflas contains outstanding chemical resistance properties and performs highly in temperatures reaching 550°F, depending on the environment. Aflas is the preferred rubber gasket material for combinations of oil and amines or ammonia: sour crude oil, sour gas, and refrigeration.

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -20°F to 400°F (excursions to 600°F)

AFLAS RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Inorganic acids, alkalis, high temperature steam, polar solvents, organic bases, hydrocarbon oils, amines and amine corrosion inhibitor systems, and hydrogen sulfide bearing fluids.

Perfluoroelastomer

Perfluoroelastomer is also called Kalrez® (DuPont) and Chemraz® (Greene, Tweed & Co.). This rubber gasket material has the capacity to resist over 1,800 different chemicals, while possessing properties that provide the high temperature stability of PTFE (620°F).

Perfluoroelastomer is great for very aggressive chemical processing, semiconductor wafer fabrication, pharmaceutical, oil and gas recovery, and aerospace applications. Kalrez® and Chemraz® have a long service life which makes seal changes, repairs, and inspections less frequent. In turn, this quality increases process and equipment uptime for magnificent productivity and yield. Perfluoroelastomer products have properties that help prevent semiconductor contamination by diminishing particulates, reducing extractables, and resisting degradation in harsh plasma. Kalrez compound 4079 is most common, and offers improved compression set resistance over compound 1050.

Other Properties:

Temperature Range: -15°F to 620°F

Excellent Compression Set Resistance

Excellent Durability

PERFLUOROELASTOMER RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

High Temperature Resistance, Excellent Chemical Resistance, Low Out Gassing, Chlorine Wet/Dry, Petroleum Oil, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons.

PERFLUOROELASTOMER NOT RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS:

Molten metals, Gaseous Alkali Metals, Halogenated Freons/Fluids, Uranium Hexafluoride.

Gasket Products

Flexible Graphite Gaskets

Flexible Graphite Gaskets

Non-asbestos Durlon

Non-Asbestos Gaskets

Filled PTFE

Ameri-lon Gaskets

EPTFE Gaskets

Expanded PTFE Gaskets

viton gaskets

Viton Gaskets

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