Os fencing materials are indispensable components in various industry sectors, since are responsible for preventing fluid leakage between sections of piping and equipment.
in the industry, The success of production directly depends on the correct functioning of all elements, and sealing materials are a fundamental part of this process.
Check out the main types and how to choose the most suitable one in this article..
Types of sealing materials
Sealing efficiency is directly linked to the quality of the material, its suitability and application. That is why, There is a type of material for every need.
Gasket Material → They are fiber-based composite materials, elastomers and additives, whose main function is the manufacture of gaskets applied in various industrial segments. These sealing gaskets are used in processes with low to medium temperatures and pressures.. The most commonly used soft joints in the industry are:
PTFE → Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluorinated polymer that has several applications. Presented in the variables of Virgin PTFE, loaded and expanded, This type of material can be used in the manufacture of gaskets for application in practically all industrial segments.
The types of PTFE most used in industry are:
- Produce: chemically inert and produced from virgin PTFE 100% expanded virgin PTFE, this sealing material is compatible with all chemicals (except fluorine and molten alkali metals), has an excellent cost benefit for applications in aggressive products and is ideal for reducing items in stock. Exclusive for industrial use.
Graphite → The high resistance to acids, alkaline solutions and organic compounds make graphite a suitable material for manufacturing sealing materials. It is used in the manufacture of laminates and gaskets that, due to their high purity index they are suitable for applications with temperature fluctuations and are resistant to a wide range of chemicals.
- PSM graphite laminate: is composed of graphite with a high degree of purity and expanded metal sheet. This sheet provides excellent sealing with high mechanical resistance at high temperatures and pressures.. Due to its high quality, It is used in a wide range of industrial applications, including steam, hot water, thermal oil and hydrocarbons.
Metal gaskets → Precision machined metal rings designed for API 6B flanges, ASME B16.5 and API 6BX (depending on the joint style). This sealing material is often used in offshore applications, and some models can be adapted for underwater installation. RTJ rings are widely used in industry.
- RTJ rings: are designed for use in high pressure applications and can be manufactured from various materials to suit the process medium and flange materials.
Semi-metallic → combine the strength of metal with the compliance of soft sealing materials, like PTFE, graphite and mica. This type of joint is intended for application with pressure and temperature from moderate to high and is usable in all branches of industry.
- Spiral-metallic: Spiral joints have the property of following movements in the flanges caused by temperature variations, pressure, flange rotation and the fully threaded stud relaxation.
Compression Packing → Made from different types of yarn and with various ways of interlacing, as gaxetas are sealing materials used in hydraulic and pneumatic systems. They are applied to axial elements such as cylinders, pistons and shafts in general.
The most used gasket models in the industry are:
- KL-1057: PTFE gasket with incorporated graphite. Ideal for all branches of industry in which the fluid be free of abrasives
- KL-5777: manufactured from phenolic fiber and lubricated with PTFE, This seal model combines high mechanical resistance with high lubricant retention. It has high performance in rotary applications where flexibility is required and high performance degree. Due to its low coefficient of friction, this gasket offers significant improvements in rotating applications, minimizing any wear on your shaft or sleeves.
- KL-8000: ideal for a wide variety of media, including steam, oils, grease and several acids and alkalis, except where there is the presence of strong and abrasive oxidizing agents. Braided from expanded graphite, this gasket It is self-lubricating and chemically inert, in addition to being soft and compressible.
How to choose the appropriate material
Some aspects must be considered when selecting the most suitable material for your fence.:
Type of equipment → To know which type of material should be applied, it is necessary to identify the equipment, considering each has a sealing property suited to its application.
fluid → Corrosions and other chemical reactions occur when there is no compatibility between the elements present in the system, therefore knowing which fluid will pass through the seal is an essential factor in choosing the material. For each type of fluid, whether liquid or gas, there is a suitable type of seal.
temperature → Paying attention to the temperature at which the fluid is operating is essential, since the material must support it. Its choice must match the thermal elevation of the fluid.
Pressure → The higher the fluid pressure, the greater the possibility of ejection from the joint. Therefore, it is essential that the application of the material takes into account the fluid pressure.
Flanged joint → The gasket can have a long service life by checking the following items:
- Flange: in fragile flange applications (vitrified, very thin wall, or plastic-reinforced fiberglass), must consider the torque limit that the element has.
- Screws / suspenders / prisoners, for the application of sealing materials: in general, what guarantees a good seal are the gaskets and those responsible for maintaining their compression from one flange against the other. That is why, it is important to carry out regular changes of these elements, because they are subject to great mechanical stresses. Your material type and grade are important in determining how much torque the gasket will be installed with..
Main fence care
In addition to understanding the types of materials and seal functionality in the fluid control process, It is important to pay attention to some details to extract maximum efficiency from the seal applied..
Among them, stand out:
To find out more about these care, we suggest reading the article about this topic:
