Choosing the right material for gaskets is more than just a technical matter: it is the key to guaranteeing excellent quality, durability and performance. Gaskets are used in complex and challenging applications in every sector of industry, and it is here that the experience of a partner such as the GB Group, which is capable of finding personalised solutions that offer excellent technological performance for every specific application, comes into play.

 

Why is the choice of material for gaskets so important?

The compatibility of the material used for your gaskets with the environment in which they are employed is a determining factor. In order to offer the best performance, sealing elements must respond to specific operational requirements, for example withstanding extreme temperatures, resisting high pressures and coming into contact with chemical substances without deterioration.

Choosing the right material is not simply a case of ensuring that your systems or machinery function properly, but also of effectively preventing inefficiency, breakdowns and unexpected costs. Relying on well-designed solutions is a way to invest in the longevity and efficiency of a system, and this can only be achieved through careful and specific selection of materials.

 

How to choose the right material for a gasket

In order to choose the ideal material, a detailed analysis of operational requirements and the conditions of use of every specific application is fundamental. This can be achieved by relying on the in-depth technical skills of a team of technicians with proven practical experience.

With its ability to assess crucial parameters in the field of custom industrial gaskets, GB Group is able to offer personalised solutions that will guarantee you the performance you are looking for, as well as the utmost durability. What are the main characteristics that should always be studied in depth?

• Type of contact: the materials chosen for gaskets must be compatible with oils, hydraulic fluids, particular atmospheric agents and aggressive or corrosive chemical substances.
• Operating temperature range: some materials offer better resistance to high temperatures, while others are more suited to extremely cold conditions.
• Durability and resistance: the gaskets you choose for your applications need to guarantee constant and reliable performance throughout the operational cycle.
• Legislation and regulations: it is also essential that the chosen material satisfies required standards for the sector in which your company operates.

 

The approach of GB Group to choosing and developing materials

GB Group adopts a carefully studied approach to ensuring that every single gasket fully responds to your specific needs. First and foremost, we only work with reliable suppliers in order to guarantee the use of materials of the utmost quality, capable of offering resistance, reliability and superior performance.

Furthermore, our Research & Development department is dedicated to constantly improving existing materials and developing new solutions, in collaboration with qualified external laboratories. For particularly challenging applications, we develop custom compounds designed to optimise the performance of gaskets on the basis of the specific conditions under which they will be employed. This means that we are able to offer you extremely precise solutions to your needs, however complex the project.

Our ability to work with a wide range of raw materials allows us to respond to the demands of the most varied of industrial sectors, providing them with seals made with three main macro-categories of materials: elastomers, thermoplastics and overmoulded materials.

 

Elastomers for gaskets

Elastomers are either natural or synthetic substances with the particular characteristics of natural rubber, and are extremely versatile materials. Their ability to withstand significant elastic deformation and then return to their original shape once the force applied has been removed renders them essential in many applications. This property means they are ideal for gaskets that are required to adapt to a range of operating conditions, maintaining a reliable seal even under heavy mechanical, chemical or thermal stress.

For example, EPDM is chosen for its excellent resistance to chemical and atmospheric agents, and is ideal for external applications and exposure to corrosive substances. On the other hand, NBR offers optimal compatibility with oils and hydraulic fluids, meaning that it is used widely in mechanical and hydraulic systems, while FKM, which offers resistance to high temperatures and chemically aggressive environments, is extensively employed in highly critical sectors.

 

Thermoplastic materials for gaskets

Thermoplastic materials represent a versatile, high-performance option for numerous industrial applications. They stand out for their capacity to be shaped and reshaped at high temperatures, without losing their structural properties. This renders them ideal for large-scale production and for components requiring precision and repeatability. Furthermore, their combined characteristics of lightness and both chemical and mechanical resistance means that they play a fundamental role in sectors subject to mechanical and thermal stress.

The main examples of thermoplastic materials include ABS, a material offering excellent aesthetic properties and resistance to impact that is perfect for structural components that need to withstand physical stress without warping. Then there are PAs, materials known for their sturdiness and low cost, ideal for general mechanical applications, or TPE, a flexible material that is easy to work, perfect for applications in the automotive industry and in the production of household appliances.

 

Overmoulded materials: advanced solutions for specific requirements

The combination of elastomers or thermoplastics with metals, rubberised cotton fabrics, nylon and high-tech fibres allows for the creation of gaskets that offer perfect resistance to high pressures and particularly critical environments. They play a fundamental role in sectors in which high performance, reliability and precision are key.

 

GB for your custom industrial gaskets

Choosing the right material for your gaskets is the first step in creating an efficient and durable system. Collaborating with our team of experts means you can rely on their excellent analysis skills and their ability to find the most suitable solutions, the result of many years of experience gained through working with an extensive and diverse range of industries.

Furthermore, you can be certain that every seal will be designed to satisfy your specific requirements, using only the best-performing and highest-quality materials the market can offer.

 

Do you need a gasket that is made specifically in line with your objectives? Contact us to find out how we can help you create it!