Rubber gaskets are mechanical seals manufactured to prevent leaks between surfaces, and can be made to any custom size for many different applications. With a wide range of elastomer materials available, each with unique properties to withstand different operational environments, it can be difficult to specify correct gasket sizes and materials to ensure the application is being sealed to optimum levels.
What is a rubber gasket?
In its simplest form, a rubber seal fills a space between two substrate sections to avoid leakage whilst under compression. A common and highly effective type of seal is a gasket. Gaskets will solve most sealing challenges as they can be manufactured to custom sizes with different materials depending on the specific demands of the application.
You will unknowingly be using rubber gaskets in everyday life, as they are used in anything from your car and coffee machines through to the treadmills in your local gym.
How do gaskets work?
Gaskets come in all shapes and sizes, and all serve the same purpose of creating separation between liquids, gases and other materials. Gaskets are used in many industries where high performance sealing solutions are required, including but not restricted to:
Which rubber elastomer materials are used?
There’s a wide range of elastomer materials available for applications across many industries. The automotive sector in particular needs very high performing gaskets made from specific types of elastomer material capable of withstanding high temperatures.
For example, in automotive applications, heat resistant materials might include fluorocarbon polymers (FKMs) and ethylene acrylate copolymers (AEM) rubbers - both of which are able to withstand heat up to 160°C, while offering flexibility at low temperatures and resistance to mineral oils and other aggressive media.
Click here for a full overview on which elastomer material is suitable for different industries.
How are gaskets manufactured?
At Novotema, rubber gaskets go through a very technical manufacturing process to ensure the highest quality products.
Most Novatema gaskets are made to order, meaning in most cases we have to create a brand new mould tool. Other manufacturers may only be able to work from standard sizes they have in stock, due to their inability to manufacture the moulding tools required for custom sized gaskets.
Once the elastomer has been specified, we will put the material through a milling machine to evenly spread the ingredients and additives to prepare the elastomer for the application environment.
Once cut into shape using industry-leading machinery, the elastomers enter a press and are left to start the curing process. Following the cure, quality inspection starts inline with the relevant quality standards for that industry.
For more information on our sealing solutions, please get in touch with our expert team.