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Industrial Gaskets: Material Selection, Types, Sizing, and Sourcing Guide

Quick Answer: An industrial gasket is a shaped sealing element placed between two flange faces or mating surfaces to prevent fluid or gas leakage under operating pressure, temperature, and media conditions. The right gasket depends on flange type, pressure class, operating temperature, chemical exposure, and required compliance standards. For custom or standard industrial gaskets, CORASEALS supplies cut gaskets, flange gaskets, spiral wound gaskets, RTJ gaskets, kammprofile gaskets, graphite gaskets, PTFE gaskets, non-asbestos gaskets, sanitary gaskets, and heat exchanger gaskets in multiple materials.

This guide covers industrial gasket types, material selection logic, dimension measurement, common failure causes, and the exact information you should provide when requesting a gasket quote.

What Is an Industrial Gasket and What Does It Do

An industrial gasket fills the unavoidable gap between two flange faces or machine surfaces. The gasket must deform enough to seal surface irregularities but remain stable under bolt load, internal pressure, temperature swings, and chemical attack. Gaskets are not O-rings. O-rings typically sit in a machined groove and rely on controlled squeeze. Gaskets usually sit between flat raised faces, tongue-and-groove faces, RTJ grooves, or heat exchanger channels and rely on compressive load from bolts or clamps.

Typical gasket functions include preventing product loss, keeping air or moisture out, maintaining pressure in piping and vessels, isolating vibration, and protecting flange surfaces from corrosion. A gasket failure in a steam line, chemical flange, or heat exchanger can shut down a whole process unit. For this reason, gasket selection must start with the flange standard, pressure class, temperature range, medium, and bolt load available.

Industrial Gasket Types by Profile and Application

CORASEALS supplies common industrial gasket profiles used across refineries, chemical plants, power stations, water treatment, food processing, pharmaceutical lines, and general industrial piping. The main profiles include sheet cut gaskets, spiral wound gaskets, kammprofile gaskets, ring type joint gaskets, PTFE envelope gaskets, and sanitary gaskets.

• Sheet cut gaskets: Cut from rubber sheets, non-asbestos fiber sheets, graphite sheets, PTFE sheets, or compressed fiber sheets. Common for flat face flanges, pump casings, valve covers, gearbox covers, and general low to medium pressure joints.
• Spiral wound gaskets: Built from alternating metal strip and filler such as graphite, PTFE, or mica. Used on raised face flanges, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels under high temperature, high pressure, or thermal cycling.
• Kammprofile gaskets: Feature a serrated metal core with a soft sealing layer on the faces. The metal core resists blowout and the soft layer provides tight sealing. Suitable for heat exchangers, piping flanges, and applications with large temperature swings.
• RTJ gaskets: Solid metal rings with oval or octagonal cross sections. Used in RTJ flanges in oil and gas, high pressure steam, and refinery services. The gasket must match the ring groove number and flange class.
• PTFE envelope gaskets: A PTFE shell around a compressible insert. Used in glass-lined piping, chemical service, and food or pharmaceutical lines where chemical resistance and cleanliness matter.
• Sanitary gaskets: Designed for tri-clamp, DIN 11851, SMS, and IDF fittings. Common materials include EPDM, FKM, silicone, and PTFE. Used in food, beverage, dairy, biotech, and pharmaceutical process lines.

The profile must match the flange type and sealing stress available. A rubber sheet gasket cannot replace a sp