Rubber gaskets and seals are two commonly used leak-proof components, both of which are made of flexible materials and are used to fill the space between two surfaces and stop the loss of liquid or gas. However, rubber gaskets and sealing rings are not exactly the same, they have different shapes, structures and applications.
What are rubber gaskets?
A rubber gasket is an annular or sheet-shaped rubber article that is typically used in static applications, such as between connections, flanges, and other mating surfaces, to prevent leaks. Depending on the material and application, rubber gaskets can be manufactured using a variety of techniques such as:
- rubber extrusion
- hot vulcanization and cold bonding
- Compression, injection and transfer molding
- Precision cutting
- Custom die cut
- Water jet cutting
Rubber gaskets are widely used in various industries and fields such as oil and gas, manufacturing and industrial, paper making, agricultural equipment, etc. Replacing worn or damaged rubber gaskets is usually relatively simple. It is generally recommended to replace the rubber gaskets when the equipment is disassembled and reassembled.
What is a sealing ring?
Seal rings are a broader category, including valve stem seals, rotary seals, mechanical seals, shaft seals, radial seals, and valve stem seals, among others. Unlike rubber gaskets, seals are typically used in dynamic environments such as motors, engines, pumps and rotating shafts. Seals usually consist of a metal outer ring and a rubber inner layer that is angled at an angle to form a sealing lip. This sloped angle helps prevent leaks in dynamic applications.
Seals are primarily used to prevent leaks between two moving parts and to keep particles and contaminants from entering the system. Replacing a damaged or cracked seal can be complicated. Not only do the seals need to be replaced, but the entire assembly may need to be disassembled to replace the seals.
Materials for rubber gaskets and seals
Rubber gaskets and seals can be made from a variety of materials, depending on their application and environment. Common materials used to make rubber gaskets and seals include:
- Nitrile rubber
- Neoprene
- EPDM
- Butyl rubber
- Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber
- Silicone Rubber
- Polyurethane
- fluororubber
All of these materials can be formulated and customized according to the needs of specific applications. For applications requiring compressible rubber gaskets or seals, treated fibers, cork, graphite, PTFE or other compressible materials can be used. The correct material selection depends on the advice of a professional manufacturer.
What is the difference between rubber gaskets and seals?
The difference between rubber gaskets and sealing rings is not obvious, they are both a type of leak-proof components. A lot of sources online will tell you that the difference between rubber gaskets and seals is that rubber gaskets are used in static equipment while seals are used in more dynamic applications. However, we believe that this is not an absolute rule, and seals can also be used to connect stationary components. If both are made of the same material and used for the same application, what is the real difference?
The easiest way to describe the difference between rubber gaskets and seals is that seals are a broad category that includes many different product types. The rubber gasket is just a more specific form of the seal. When it comes to buying, the biggest difference between rubber gaskets and seals is simply what the manufacturer names them. If a rubber square is called a rubber gasket on one website and a seal on another, that doesn't mean one is better than the other. It just means that they all call similar products by different names.