Rubber Washer Gaskets: Features, Applications, and Benefits
Rubber washer-style gaskets are essential sealing components used in various industries to prevent leaks, cushion vibrations, and provide insulation between surfaces. These gaskets, which resemble washers in shape, are designed to provide a tight seal and are commonly used in applications where reliability and durability are critical. This guide covers the features, common applications, and the pros and cons of rubber washer-style gaskets.
CanRez® FFKM and Kalrez® washer gaskets, O-rings, X-ring rapid manufacturing, & custom molded parts are available now!
Check with one of Canyon’s helpful product engineers for an expert material and manufacturing recommendation.
Features of Rubber Washer Gaskets
Rubber washer-style gaskets offer several key features that make them ideal for sealing and cushioning applications:
- Effective Sealing: These gaskets provide a tight seal between two surfaces, preventing leaks of fluids, gases, and other materials.
- Flexibility: Made from flexible rubber materials, washer-style gaskets can conform to irregular surfaces, ensuring a reliable seal even in uneven applications.
- Vibration Dampening: Rubber gaskets absorb vibrations and shocks, reducing noise and preventing damage to sensitive components.
- Chemical Resistance: Depending on the rubber material, these gaskets can resist a wide range of chemicals, oils, and gases, making them suitable for harsh environments.
- Temperature Tolerance: Rubber washer-style gaskets can be designed to perform effectively in both low and high-temperature conditions, ensuring reliable operation in various environments.
Common Applications of Rubber Washer Gaskets
Rubber washer-style gaskets are used in a wide range of industries due to their versatility and reliability. Common applications include:
- Plumbing: Rubber washer-style gaskets are commonly used in plumbing systems to seal connections between pipes, faucets, and fixtures, preventing leaks and ensuring water-tightness.
- Automotive: In automotive systems, these gaskets are used to seal components such as fuel lines, oil pans, and exhaust systems, ensuring reliable performance and preventing leaks.
- HVAC Systems: In heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, rubber washer-style gaskets provide sealing and insulation between components, helping to maintain energy efficiency and reduce noise.
- Industrial Machinery: Rubber washer-style gaskets are used in various industrial machinery to seal joints, cushion components, and prevent leaks in fluid and gas systems.
- Electrical Systems: These gaskets are also used in electrical enclosures and systems to provide insulation and protect sensitive components from moisture and contaminants.
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
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Washer Gasket Materials
CanRez™ FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Extreme temperatures & chemicals require extreme solutions! CanRez™ FFKM washer gaskets offer extreme reliability where you need it most! Thousands of sizes in stock now!
CanGuard™ RFI & EMI Shielding Materials
CanGuard™ washer gasket materials have been developed to offer superior sealing solutions with enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding.
Kalrez® FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Canyon Components offers Kalrez® Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
Parker® washer gaskets, O-rings, Parofluor parts, parker FKM Viton
Canyon Components offers Parker Hannifin® washer gaskets, O-rings, Gaskets, Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) parts, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
FKM (Viton®, Fluorocarbon)
FKM washer gaskets, compounds, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts exhibit excellent mechanical attributes as well as excellent resistance to high temperatures, mineral oil, ozone, fuels, hydraulic fluids, and many other solvents and chemicals.
Aflas® (TFE/P)
TFE/P (Aflas) washer gaskets, compounds, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts gives high resistance to steam, hot water, atmospheric wear, and many chemicals. TFE/P compounds provide superior performance in water, steam and virtually all caustic chemicals.
Fluorosilicone (FVMQ)
The mechanical and physical properties of Fluorosilicone washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very similar to silicone. Fluorosilicone O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer improved flexibility and strength, better resistance to fuels and mineral oil, but reduced hot air resistance.
Silicone (VMQ, PVMQ)
Silicone washer gaskets, seals, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are excellent for extreme temperatures in static applications. Canyon Components carries a range of silicone materials, and we are happy to custom tailor a seal to meet your application requirements!
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene)
EPDM washer gaskets, materials, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts can operate over a wide temperature range, and are compatible with glycol fluids that cause problems for most typical elastomeric seals.
NBR (Nitrile, Buna-N)
Nitrile washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very oil-resistant, have strong mechanical properties, are resistant to wear, and are relatively inexpensive. These properties make Nitrile the most commonly used general purpose O-ring, gasket, & custom molded part material.
HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile)
Hydrogenated Nitrile washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer higher strength and reduced degradation at high temperatures compared to conventional Nitrile materials. These properties make HNBR materials popular in the oil and gas industry, as well as many applications in the chemical industry.
XNBR (Carboxylated Nitrile)
XNBR washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are similar to Nitrile, but the backbone has been chemically modified with a Carboxylic Acid group. The resulting elastomer is a Nitrile rubber with outstanding abrasion and chemical resistance, superior to that of traditional Nitrile.
Neoprene (CR)
Chloroprene was the first synthetic rubber, and was developed commercially under the name Neoprene®. Chloroprene washer gaskets, rubbers, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts contain Chlorine in the polymer to reduce the reactivity to many oxidizing agents, as well as to oil and flame.
Polyurethane (PU, AU)
Polyurethane washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts generally have two or three times greater tensile strength and wear resistance than Nitrile and comparable polymers. Polyurethane also provides excellent permeation resistance when compared to most rubbers.
PTFE (Teflon)
The harshest environments require specialized solutions. Often times, a Canyon Components PTFE washer gaskets are used in harsh chemical environments. Polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as PTFE or Teflon®, is a high-performance fluoropolymer known for its exceptional chemical resistance, low friction, and non-stick properties.
Product Types
Custom Parts
Here at Canyon Components, we make sure to offer our customers any manufacturing technique they desire. Whether your washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts be rubber, plastic, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it!
Gaskets & Custom Cutting
Whether your custom cut parts be rubber, plastic, sponge, composite, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it! Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. If you need something that isn't listed, feel free to contact a Canyon Components product and application consultant.
Specialty Compliances
Canyon have materials available for washer gaskets, O-rings, gaskets, & custom parts with compliances ranging from USP Class VI <87> & <88> for medical applications, to FDA CFR 21.177.2600 grades A through F for different food types, to the various drinking water specifications like KTW and NSF. Whether it's metal, rubber, or plastic, Canyon can meet your needs!
Washer Gasket Pros & Cons
Rubber washer-style gaskets are versatile and cost-effective components that provide essential sealing, cushioning, and insulation in a wide range of applications. From plumbing and automotive systems to industrial machinery and HVAC systems, these gaskets help ensure the efficient and reliable operation of systems in various industries. While they offer many advantages, including durability and chemical resistance, potential limitations such as material degradation and load-bearing capacity should be considered when selecting rubber washer-style gaskets for specific applications. Understanding the features, applications, and potential drawbacks of rubber washer-style gaskets will help you make informed decisions to ensure optimal performance in your systems.
Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. Feel free to contact Canyon Components engineering and let our knowledgeable staff help you design the perfect part for your needs.
Pros of Rubber Washer Gaskets
Rubber washer-style gaskets offer several advantages that make them a preferred choice in many applications:
- Versatility: These gaskets can be used in a wide range of systems, offering a versatile solution for various sealing and cushioning needs.
- Cost-Effective: Rubber washer-style gaskets are generally more affordable than metal or composite alternatives, making them a cost-effective solution for many applications.
- Durability: Built to withstand repeated use and harsh conditions, rubber gaskets offer long-lasting performance in demanding environments.
- Easy to Install: Rubber washer-style gaskets are easy to install and replace, making maintenance and repairs more straightforward.
- Customizable: Available in various sizes, shapes, and materials, these gaskets can be tailored to meet specific application requirements.
Cons of Rubber Washer Gaskets
While rubber washer-style gaskets offer many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
- Limited Load-Bearing Capacity: Rubber gaskets may not be suitable for applications that require high load-bearing capacity, as they are more prone to deformation under pressure compared to metal or composite alternatives.
- Material Degradation: Depending on the environmental conditions and the type of rubber used, these gaskets may degrade over time due to exposure to UV rays, chemicals, or extreme temperatures.
- Compression Set: Over time, rubber washer-style gaskets may experience compression set, where the material becomes permanently deformed under pressure, potentially reducing their effectiveness in sealing or cushioning.
- Size Limitations: While these gaskets are available in various sizes, there may be limitations in finding the exact size needed for certain specialized applications, which could require custom manufacturing.
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