Rubber Gasket
Rubber gaskets are flexible elements designed to seal the tiny gaps between two mating surfaces or joints. Common applications include sealing flange faces in piping systems, automotive cylinder heads, engine blocks, tank rims, covers, door edges, and frames. These gaskets work by conforming to and filling in the irregularities of the rigid surfaces. The sealing action is achieved as the parts compress the gasket, causing it to deform and create a tight seal.
SYNTHETIC RUBBER PRODUCTS's Rubber gaskets find applications across various industries due to their versatility. They are particularly effective in general-purpose settings involving low to medium pressures and temperatures. Their strengths are most evident in environments dealing with chemicals, water, and hydrocarbons. Different rubber formulations can provide resistance to specific groups of chemicals, enhancing their suitability for specialised applications.
Applications:
Industrial Piping and Pipe Fittings - In industrial settings, rubber gaskets are commonly employed for utility and chemical processing lines. They are generally suitable for low to medium pressure applications. While most rubber gaskets are rated for around 150 psi (10 bars), certain high-performance types, such as PTFE gaskets, can handle pressures up to 800 psi (55 bars).
Water Utility and Plumbing - Plumbing applications due to their affordability and resistance to corrosion and degradation caused by water, chlorides, and biological factors. They are commonly found in household fixtures such as faucets and drains.
Automotive:
In automotive applications, there are two primary types of rubber gaskets. The first type is used for sealing low-pressure and passive components, such as doors and windows. These gaskets are made entirely of rubber and are designed to absorb shocks while preventing the ingress of water and air. Additionally, oil and solvent-resistant rubber gaskets are employed in fuel supply and hydraulic lines to ensure durability and reliability in these demanding environments. The second type includes gaskets used in engine and transmission components, such as the oil pan gasket, exhaust gasket, and head gasket. These are generally composite gaskets rather than pure rubber gaskets. They often incorporate mineral fibres or steel reinforcements within a rubber matrix to enhance their strength and durability.
Marine:
In marine equipment and ships, rubber gaskets are utilised to seal hatches, doors, and windows. Their resilience makes them ideal for these applications, as they effectively absorb shocks and impacts. Rubber's ability to withstand significant deflection and compression under heavy loads further enhances its suitability. Additionally, rubber gaskets are resistant to corrosion from environments with high chloride levels, making them durable in marine conditions.
Tanks, Vessels, and Containers:
Rubber is an excellent choice for sealing covers, nozzles, holes, and ports on containers for liquids or bulk solids. Its affordability, effective sealing properties, and resistance to fluid degradation make it highly suitable for these applications. Different rubber types offer varying levels of chemical resistance. For instance, nitrile and neoprene gaskets are effective against fuels, oils, and petroleum-based solvents. Fluorocarbon-based rubbers provide strong resistance to acids and alkalis, while silicone gaskets are favoured for their resistance to water and moisture in wet environments.
Food Industry:
Rubber is a preferred material for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing due to its ability to be produced from non-toxic, FDA-approved substances. Rubber gaskets are commonly used in food, beverage, and drug processing facilities to seal valves, pipe joints, and various equipment ports and fixtures.
Material:
Rubbers are typically categorized based on the monomers used to create their polymer chains. These monomers can include hydrocarbons like ethylene, methylene, propylene, isoprene, and fluorocarbons.
The structure of the polymer chain defines the fundamental properties of the rubber. Additional components such as curatives and additives further modify these properties, leading to various subclassifications within the main rubber types.
Our most commonly used rubber gasket materials are: SBR, Neoprene, EPDM, NBR, Silicone and PTFE material.
Malaysia
