What Is a Rubber Gasket?

Often underappreciated but vital to thousands of machines and household appliances, rubber gaskets help make our everyday life possible. They seal our refrigerator doors to keep food fresh; they keep ammunition protected from moisture; they help build bridges. What is a rubber gasket and how is it used in all of these applications? Well, it is a mechanical seal that is used primarily to prevent leaks of gas or liquid, but can be used as a barrier between two objects, such as two metals or chemicals. They are often utilized as protection from outside elements as well. In a camera lens, they combat moisture and dust to ensure that the lens stays focused and speck free. Used in almost every industry, this fabricated rubber product is versatile and necessary for thousands of applications. There are rarely two applications that use the same shape or size gasket. Gaskets are made specific to each use and this makes this industry very unique!

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To best suit the needs of different uses, a rubber gasket must be cut or shaped into required sizes using varying sheets of rubber. (In this article we are discussing gaskets that are flat! Products like O-Rings, 3-dimiensional parts, and profiles are not covered here.) Engineers design equipment that having moving parts and need rubber parts to protect them. The designer or engineer choses a sheet rubber product that will suit the needs of the application and that will withstand the conditions the rubber is exposed to. Criteria like media temperature, rubber hardness, tensile strength, and percentage of compound are some of the concerns when choosing rubber gasket materials. The drawing and the material specs are then sent to gasket cutting. Engineer who designs a part must understand the needs of the equipment and the capabilities of the elastomers and them match the two together.

Closed Cell Rubber &#; EPDM

Closed Cell Rubber &#; EPDM

• Temperature Range: -40° F to 200° F
• Durometer rating of 15 Shore C
• Sheets available in size of 39&#; by 78&#;
• Perfect for use in indoor or outdoor applications

High Compressive Strength: Closed cell rubber is a bit different from its open cell counterpart in terms of compressive strength. While open cell sponge rubber can rebound back to its original shape very quickly, closed foam rubber sponge takes a bit longer to do so. This allows the closed cell EPDM sponge rubber to handle high- pressure applications at a better rate, making it more durable.

Perfect for the Outdoors: The excellent ability of this closed cell rubber to operate in the outdoors is all thanks to the compound of EPDM rubber in its structural makeup. It has an excellent level of resistant to both UV rays and ozone. Outdoor factors like UV and ozone may not damage a material immediately, but they can definitely degrade a material over time. The EPDM compound in this sponge rubber allows it to remain exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. This is the primary reason why EPDM material is a popular elastomer to use in applications such as window sealing on vehicles and homes.

Thickness Open Cell Rubber - EPDM - 39" x 78" quantity

Open Cell Rubber &#; EPDM &#; 39&#; x 78&#;

$45.91 &#; $364.70

Stocked Sizes Ship in 24 Hours!Free Shipping On Orders Over $99
Need Help? Call 1-844-Rubber-4

Thickness Closed Cell Rubber - EPDM - 39" x 78" quantity

Closed Cell Rubber &#; EPDM &#; 39&#; x 78&#;

$23.56 &#; $374.42

Stocked Sizes Ship in 24 Hours!Free Shipping On Orders Over $99 Custom Cut Parts? Call 1-844-Rubber-4

Thickness Widths Lengths EPDM 60A Rubber Strips & Small Parts - Size Options quantity

EPDM 60A Rubber Strips & Small Parts &#; Size Options

$23.08 &#; $856.54

In Stock. Ships in 24 Hours!Free Shipping! Need Help? Call 1-844-Rubber-4

When deciding upon rubber gasket material it is important to remember that each rubber compound has different physical characteristics like durometer and tensile strength. Durometer refers to the hardness of a material or the resistance to permanent indentation. The lower the durometer the more impression you can make on the sheet. Lower durometer rubber products are generally less dense and more supple. Higher durometer rubber sheets are less flexible, more dense, and a little heavier. Tensile strength is the maximum stress that material can undergo while being stretched or pulled. This means whether or not a material is brittle or more tear and crack resistant. What happens if you apply more force than the tensile strength of the rubber? Failure. How it fails is a function of lots of other factor. Each rubber sheeting will have differing durometer and tensile strength profiles. A good analogy is that cars can have variations in horsepower, and rubbers can have differing flexibility measures. It is important to also note their abilities to withstand temperature and chemicals, as well as their color and aesthetics. These are just a few considerations when choosing amongst rubber sheet products. The most common rubber gasket materials are listed below:

• Neoprene &#; An all-purpose polymer, neoprene gaskets are moderately resistant to petroleum products, but offer good resistance to the ozone and weathering. They are easily compressed and excellent for sealing refrigeration fluids due to their temperature range of -65 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Neoprene offers three gasket forms: homogenous, sponge, and diaphragm. Homogenous Neoprene offers moderate resistance to oil and ozone damage and is generally used for bumpers and pads. Sponge Neoprene contains tiny individual sealed cells to resist moisture, dirt, and air even at cut edges.  This makes this material a great sound and vibration insulator as well as shock absorber.  Diaphragm Neoprene reinforced with cotton duck, enhancing the interior structure of the material.  Neoprene is generally black in color with a smooth finish.
• EPDM &#; Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) offers excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, UV rays, grease and oils. Able to withstand a large range of temperatures from -40 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, EPDM gaskets are generally used in outside applications. EPDM Gaskets are also available in two durometers.  The medium durometer of 45-55 is moderately flexible, while the harder version of 55-65 is better resistant to physical abrasive environments. EPDM gaskets have a black plate finish.
• Nitrile &#; One of the most widely used materials, a nitrile gasket is very resistant to petroleum products and animal fats with superior abrasion and tear resistance. Unlike EPDM gaskets, a nitrile gasket is not as well-suited for ozone and weathering applications.  But this material reins supreme in automotive applications, since the presence of oils make it a necessity. A nitrile gasket or pad is sometimes present in food processing equipment, since animal by-products do have greases and oils.
• Silicone &#; Often used in the automotive industry, Silicone is very resistant to oxygen, ozone, and ultraviolet light. With a working temperature of over to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, Silicone is perfect for extreme temperature applications, such as in automobiles.  This product is also good for electrical insulation and is often used for electrical applications.  Silicone is also able to withstand large amounts of pressure, so it can be used in areas with more physical stress. However, Silicone has poor tear strength and does not work effectively against oils.
• Santoprenes &#; A high performance thermoplastic elastomer, Santoprene combines great flexibility with low compression. With both a smooth and a block surface design, this product is extremely versatile and perfect for automotive applications.

Thickness Closed Cell Rubber - EPDM - 39" x 78" quantity

Closed Cell Rubber &#; EPDM &#; 39&#; x 78&#;

$23.56 &#; $374.42

Stocked Sizes Ship in 24 Hours!Free Shipping On Orders Over $99 Custom Cut Parts? Call 1-844-Rubber-4

When sheet rubber products are made, the factory can vary the content of any of the above compounds when mixing. For example EPDM&#;s can be produced with 10% EPDM content or up to 100%. If the mixture is 10% EPDM and 90% SBR, this makes the end-result far less effective as an EPDM gasket! Now that we have chosen amongst some of the options in rubber gasket materials, we can discuss fabrication.

The four most used rubber gasket cutting methods are listed below:

• Hand cutting &#; The most traditional method, hand cutting a rubber gasket usually involves an assembly line to speed up the process. Hand cutting is reserved for less critical applications and prototyping. It also usually includes a skilled craftsman that has years of experience and lots of friendly tools.
• Die cutting &#; Customized to the item created, a die cutting machine is made to punch a unique shape out of the sheet material. The die is made based on the drawings or simple dimensions of the requisition. Once the desired shape is determined, the machine will do the gasket cutting.  This method has limits in terms of the thickness of materials used, and generally sheet goods 3/8&#; or less are die-cut.
• Water jet cutting &#; In response to demand for precision cutting for gaskets, water jet cutting is able to create a cleaner cut on thick rubber materials without the edge concavity from die cutting.
• Molded &#; Gaskets can also be created from molds. Custom fit molds are best for unique jobs with the need for high volume production.

Pure Gum Rubber &#; Commercial Grade &#; 40A

Pure Gum Rubber &#; Commercial Grade &#; 40A

• Has a very high tensile strength
• Can resist most organic salts, ammonia, acids, and alkalis
• Able to operate in temperatures between -20° F and 170° F
• Pure gum rubber can be used for some medical applications
• Not recommended for use with strong caustic oils and chemicals
• Ideal for industrial applications that need good &#;bounce-back&#; characteristics from rubber parts

Soft and Elastic: Pure gum rubber is valued for being a softer, more elastic type of rubber. It has a low durometer rating of 35-45, meaning that while it is not a very hard material, it is very elastic. This high elasticity gives it a level of adaptability for various seal and gasket applications that is hard to beat. This flexible rubber material can be stretched further than other elastomers. It is the prime reason why natural gum rubber is used as squeegee blades, industrial skirting, and drum practice pads.

Non-Marking Rubber: A very useful characteristic of pure gum rubber is that it is non-marking. No matter what type of color variation it comes in, brown to light tan, a natural rubber product will not leave any stains or marks on the places where they are used. This feature is especially useful in applications like window cleaning.

For gaskets larger than 48&#;, it is best to use rubber rolls to accommodate larger format gaskets. It may be difficult to find material to suit this as most companies offer up to 48 inch widths. Rubber-Cal does offer up to 72&#; rolls so that it is possible for you to create a larger format gasket than with the typical rubber roll.

The options in rubber gasket materials and gasket cutting methods allow you to choose based on your project&#;s demands on what to use and how to cut it. A nitrile gasket is completely different from EPDM gaskets; from durometer and tensile strength to just aesthetics alone, the material of each gasket is extremely important to ensure your gasket works properly. Never wonder what is a rubber gasket again! Just know that it can be literally in any size or made from any one of many rubber compounds. Just evaluate your needs and pick a rubber gasket with this list of chemical, temperature, and chemical resistant criteria that suits your needs.

Specialist Sealing Products have been providing high-quality gaskets to customers throughout the UK for many years. We pride ourselves in the range of gaskets we have available, suitable for a variety of applications across a range of industries. 

Rubber gaskets are indeed the perfect solution to, in their simplest form, fill the gap between two parts. Helping to provide a tight seal that prevents leaks, helps to reduce noise, or can act as a support mount. 

Rubber gaskets are so versatile that they can be used in any business operating in any sector needed for any application. It is primarily used in oil and gas, food processing, pharmaceutical, water, and petrochemical industries. 

Additional resources:
5 Must-Have Features in a marine sanitation hose

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Rubber Bellows.

Manufacturing rubber gaskets &#; The Process

Cutting and punching play a big part in the manufacturing process of gaskets. Producing a range of different products in a range of volumes, all dependant on specific requirements. 

Ideally, you need to work with a manufacturing process that provides the best solution for you, and one that is ultimately fit for purpose. 

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Most common production techniques

Punching

Gasket punching is one of the most traditional methods in the manufacturing process. Gasket punching involves a bent steel strip that can be moulded into the desired shape and then fed through a sheet of the gasket, followed by a cutting board. Gasket punching involves a sharp blade being pressed into the steel to pierce through the sheet material, cleanly and with ease. The shape inside the cutter is then the finished gasket. 

Originally, gasket punching was widely used in the shoe industry; however, due to its many benefits, the process of punching is used to manufacturer a much wider range of gaskets for a variety of industries. 

Punching is the best manufacturing method if you&#;re looking for consistently sized gaskets that require large volumes to be produced. 

Cutting

Gasket cutting can often be preferred to gasket punching because a number of different product characteristics come into play that cutting can work with effectively and efficiently. 

Types of cutting involve: 

Kiss cutting &#; which is used to support the handling of smaller punched parts. 

Water jetting &#; which involves a high pressure of jet water being blown through a sheet of material to cut it. This particular manufacturing method allows hard or soft, cellular, or solid materials to be cut quickly and in a wide range of shapes. All done without deformation that is often found on other punching processes. This process is also good if you&#;re looking for a quick run. (Note: materials that absorb water are not suitable for this process). 

Laser cutting &#; similar to water jetting, you&#;re simply just using a laser instead. The benefits are also similar, but with lasers, you can experience a flammability problem. 

Hand cutting &#; ideal for much larger and more bespoke gaskets. A traditional manufacturing process but still extremely useful. Hand marking out shapes and then using knives and saddle punches to create more bespoke gaskets. 

Strip cutting &#; which uses a rotary knife to convert the strip material into the end product. Using a rotating knife, this process cuts long sheets of material into strips using a circular rotation. The distance between each blade is then set, determined by what is being produced. 

Finishing touches

It&#;s important to ensure that the products manufactured are also trimmed, finished, and packed to a very high standard. 

The product still is not 100% complete as soon as it comes off the production line, it needs to be finished, by sealing experts. 

SSP provides a range of gaskets to suit your individual needs. Give us a call to ask one of our sealing experts about the right gasket for you. 

Gasket manufacturers SSP have the flexibility, as well as the tools, machinery, and processes to offer customers a wide range of punched and cut gaskets. 

Working with a range of volumes to support several industries, we&#;re proud of our robust manufacturing processes.