Jacketed Gaskets

Jacketed Gaskets

In machines where the unsealed gaps may be small or narrow, jacketed gaskets work well because they can be made in several shapes; these include round, oblong and rectangular shapes. Also, because of their ability to withstand high heat – from about 660° to 1,115° F – these gaskets are optimal for applications such as exhaust pipes in the automotive industry, heat exchangers and autoclaves in the chemical industry and manholes and valves in the transportation industry. The needs of each machine (in terms of pressure, temperature and the shape needed for the gasket) dictate what types of metal and filler materials will be used in each gasket. Metals such as soft iron, stainless steel, brass, copper and nickel are used to make the jackets. The fillers often include ceramics, Teflon, graphite and corrugated metal.

There are several types of commonly used jacketed gaskets: single jacketed gaskets, double jacketed gaskets, single corrugated gaskets, and double jacketed corrugated gaskets. With single jacketed gaskets, there is coverage on both edges but on only one face, and the gasket is similar to a u-shape. This type of gasket is used to help seal pitted or warped flanges. Double jacketed gaskets are similar to single jacketed gaskets, but the double jacketed gasket covers both edges and both faces, creating an oblong shape. These gaskets work well in high pressure applications because they provide support on all sides, and they are also helpful in sealing corroded areas. Single corrugated gaskets look like small, wavy metal plates; however, they have no jacket and no filler. They are typically used to seal very small gaps in valve applications. Double jacketed corrugated gaskets still look like wavy metal plates, but they also provide a jacket for a soft filler. The jacket covers both edges and both faces, and both faces are corrugated. This gasket works well for uneven flanges and for areas that have little contact with anything else. A less common type of gasket is the French type jacketed gasket, which has a jacket that covers both faces but only one edge. These gaskets work well with flat, even flanges and high bolt loads and can be used on applications such as vacuum seals.