Gasket Material

Previous blog posts emphasized the importance of assessing the peak temperatures anticipated in a gasketed joint. Left unsaid has been why this matters. It’s probably obvious that polyurethane, nitrile and silicone gaskets all have a temperature at which they melt. More important, all will likely fail under prolonged exposure to temperatures near their melting point, due to a phenomenon called “creep.”.

Viscoelastic materials

Most gasket materials are viscoelastic. The “viscous” part means they have a propensity to flow slowly, like a thick gel and “elastic” refers to their ability to stretch and return to their original dimensions. However, elasticity has its limits. If the material is stretched too far it can’t return to its original size or shape, resulting in permanent “plastic deformation.”

Place a viscoelastic gasket material like polyurethane under load and it becomes thinner while simultaneously spreading outwards. This is “creep.” Releasing the load lets the material recover, but only to the extent that it has not been deformed plastically.

Creep relaxation

In a gasketed joint the material is compressed, either by the stretch of the flange bolts as they are tightened or by other retaining clamps. When first placed under load it starts to creep, but as the gasket thins the load lessens until the creep stops. This is termed creep relaxation. With good design this happens before the gasket reaches a point where the joint starts to leak.

Higher temperatures

Creep is related to temperature. When a polymer like polyurethane or styrene butadiene rubber gets warmer the molecular chains slide more readily. As a result it takes less force to produce a given movement. As the temperature approaches the melting point of the material, the force needed to produce a given movement falls quickly. To take one example, this means that at temperatures over 200 F (93 C) a nitrile gasket starts shows considerable creep.

Consider the material properties

Always select gasket material with the knowledge of the maximum temperatures expected. The more safety margin can be incorporated the less creep will be experienced, leading to a longer lasting gasket.

All gasket materials have a temperature range they work over. Going outside of this range is a recipe for leakage, but buying one with a wider range than is necessary can be unnecessarily expensive. Why buy a silicone gasket when a nitrile gasket will do the job? The key lies in understanding the expected in-service temperatures.

Effects on the joint

Temperature, and especially temperature cycling, affects sealing in three ways:

• Expansion/contraction of the joint and fasteners alters clamping loads and gaps.
• High/low temperatures can result in material cracking of extruding out of the joint.
• Cycling demands the material recovers to maintain the seal at all times.

The external thermal environment

Gaskets placed outdoors can experience large temperature swings, but ambient temperature is only part of the story. Piping running above a desert floor will absorb solar energy, getting well above 100F. Likewise, a brisk north wind in a Minnesota winter can produce effective temperatures far below zero.

Extreme temperatures are not uncommon indoors either. Foundries and frozen food distribution centers are both examples of where gaskets could see very high or very low temperatures, (although swings between the two are less likely.)

Media temperature

Knowing the mean temperature of the media being transported or sealed isn’t enough. Abnormal operating conditions could lead to unexpected peaks or dips, as can shut-downs and start-ups. Steam cleaning in particular can lead to higher than normal temperatures.

For enclosures it’s important to estimate the worst-case thermal load. Electrical equipment like drives and transformers produce significant heat and while a cabinet might have ventilation, consider the possibility of a blocked filter or failed fan.

Thermal gradients

Temperature differentials across a sealed joint can also challenge gasket materials, especially when that gradient changes. Piping cryogenically-cooled liquids through the desert, or hot gases in the arctic can make joints move and needs materials that recover quickly without taking a compression set.

Consider the worst-case

When selecting gasket material, know what temperatures to anticipate and choose accordingly. For information on gasket materials, contact a product specialist at Hennig Gasket.