A Comparison of Gaskets and O-Rings and Their Common Applications

What is a Gasket?

Gaskets are flat pieces of material used to seal two flat surfaces together, usually with a bolted joint. Gaskets are made from a variety of elastomeric materials, including Viton, EPDM, Nitrile, and Neoprene, to name a few. Gaskets are utilized in a variety of industries including pulp and paper, oil and gas, and power generation.

What are O-Rings?

O-rings are ring-shaped bits that must be placed in a groove to form a seal between two sections. The o-ability ring’s to produce an air or liquid-tight seal is due to the compression of the two parts. Within its application, o-rings can often endure pressure and vibration. O-rings can be made for static or dynamic applications depending on their shape.

How Gasket and O-Rings are different?

A gasket is a next technology in the sealing family after designed seals like O-rings. A flat flange and a fastened junction are often required. Gaskets are the most versatile seal, as they come in a variety of shapes, materials, coatings, and procedures. They can seal over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, depending on the type of material chosen. As far as gaskets go, composite (metal-reinforced) materials offer some of the best heat and pressure resistance available.

While both gaskets and o-rings are reliable sealing devices, their distinct characteristics make them suited for diverse applications. O-Rings are the finest option for high-pressure applications since they can tolerate high pressures without failing. While both sealing technologies are effective in a wide range of temperatures, gaskets are better suited to extreme conditions.

The design of the seal is also an important consideration when choosing between gaskets and o-rings. O-rings are designed for circular couplings and require a groove, whereas gaskets can be produced to fit any shape.

Some Applications of Gasket:

Transformers, power generators, and electrical motors

Electronics

Devices for communication on the go

Telecommunications hardware

Industry of aerospace and defence

Automobiles and transportation

Medical equipment

Industry of food and drinks

Some Applications of O-rings:

Seals that are hydraulic

Joints in pipes

Fluid seal points on equipment

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Seals made of oil

Systems for supplying fuel

processing of food

Industry of pharmaceuticals and medicine

Industry of pulp and paper

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Gasket vs. Seal Differences

What Is a Gasket?

A gasket is a ring or sheet composed of a supple material used in static applications to seal joints, flanges, and other mating surfaces to prevent leakage.

Depending on the material and application, gaskets can be produced using a broad range of manufacturing techniques, including:

Both gaskets and seals can be found in nearly every application and industry, including oil and gas, manufacturing and industrial applications, pulp and paper production, and agricultural equipment.

Worn or broken gaskets are easy to replace. It is typically recommended to change gaskets any time the equipment is disassembled and reassembled.

Difference Between ‘O’ Ring and Gasket

Difference between an ‘O’ ring and a gasket

Despite the fact that they are both used for sealing, gaskets and ‘O’ rings are actually quite distinct in their appearance and application. In order to avoid unnecessary cost and extended downtime, it is essential to specify the right type of seal for the job. Here, TRP Polymer Solutions explains the difference between gaskets vs ‘O’ rings.

In the engineering world, some sealing products appear to be interchangeable. However, in the case of ‘O’ rings and gaskets, these two distinctive seals have very specific uses that set them apart. Here is a brief overview of the differences to help with your decision-making process the next time you want to specify a gasket or ‘O’ ring for your sealing application.

Gaskets

Gaskets are used to seal connections between two flat-surfaced flanges or components in order to prevent leaking. A variety of elastomeric materials are used to manufacture gaskets, including Viton, EPDM, Nitrile and Neoprene – to name but a few. Gaskets are used across countless industries, such as pulp and paper, oil and gas and electric generation.

As a general rule of thumb, when any equipment is taken apart and reassembled the gaskets should be replaced. Commonly used as static seals, gaskets are available in a vast array of sizes and shapes and can be tailored to fit your specific needs.

At TRP Polymer Solutions, we offer high-performance gaskets, manufactured from high-grade materials, which are suited to specialist applications. For example, we have developed PTFE protected gaskets for chemical processing applications and FDA gaskets for food processing applications.

’O’ rings

‘O’ rings are generally circular in shape and are also available in a range of sizes and materials. Wherever machines require fluids to be contained and separated from other environments, ‘O’ rings will be utilised. In which case, ‘O’ rings will be found pressed between two of the machine’s components to create a seal.

Elastomeric ‘O’ rings work together with the glands within which they are installed. These glands, which are normally cut from the metallic hardware, work with the ‘O’ ring to form the seal. The ‘O’ ring and gland should ideally be designed at the same time to guarantee the best performance.

TRP Polymer Solutions manufactures a range of high-performance ‘O’ rings. We employ a selection of durable, high specification materials, including Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), Fluoroelastomer (FKM) and Silicone. Our high-performance ‘O’ rings are available to AS-568A / BS1806 / BS ISO 3601-1 / BS ISO 3601-2 standard sizes and are supported by a large range of non-standard tooling.

Why choose TRP Polymer Solutions?

TRP Polymer Solutions’ technical experts have many years of experience developing and specifying high performance ‘O’ rings and gaskets and are only too happy to offer guidance and advice on material selection and product development. We aim to develop long-term relationships with our customers to enable us to enhance their product performance.

With our flexible production process, we are able to offer short lead times for both custom products and high-performance FFKM ‘O’ rings, with the ability to meet short prototype development targets. Speak to one of our experts today on 01432 268899 or email sales@trp.co.uk.