Case Studies for Sealing Non-Metallic Flanges

Composite-style gaskets consisting of an expanded PTFE outer layer with an encapsulated corrugated insert are an effective solution for many different challenging sealing applications. They seal at lower applied stresses than most common sheet materials by concentrating the stress on the peaks of the corrugations and are resilient to loss of stress due to cold flow as well as thermal & mechanical cycling. Non-metallic flanges are a common application where these gaskets are used due to the relatively low bolt loads; however, the wide variation in material, geometry, and process fluid often requires a custom gasket design. This presentation by Jeff Wilson of VSP Technologies covers several unique applications that require an innovative approach to the gasket selection and design to resolve chronic sealing issues.