There are things that we don’t think we need but are of utmost importance, for example, having a leaking faucet or a seal you cannot properly close. These are minimal inconveniences that can lead to a huge hassle over time. And whether you know it or not, this might be the time to tell you that you might be needing a rubber gasket sheet. But choosing and purchasing one is not always straightforward, as you have to check if it will be exposed to heat, oil, pressure, or all of them. Here’s how to know which is which.
What is a rubber gasket sheet?
A rubber gasket sheet is a flat rubber that is wrapped around things and is used to prevent leaks. The sheet is cut into different sizes and shapes depending on what you need and becomes a connection point from one pipe to another or one link to an appliance or car engine.
How to Choose the Right Rubber Gasket Sheet
Heat Resistance: Keeping It Cool (or Hot!)
High temperatures, like microwave ovens or a car engine, can cause materials to melt or crack, thereby losing their sealing ability. In such a case, food-grade and medical equipment can use silicone rubber, and a material called ethylene propylene diene monomer, or EPDM, can be used in outdoor conditions where the weather is harsh. Lastly, if you are dealing with an industrial issue, a gasket like Viton is a high-performance option you need.
Oil and Chemical Resistance: Avoiding Breakdown
Materials coming into contact with fuel can be exposed to a lot of things, even breaking down. A go-to choice that is used in car engines is nitrile rubber. On the other hand, neoprene functions as an all-arounder in fixing a seal on your refrigerator or the HVAC system.
Pressure Resistance: Holding the Seal Under Force
Pipes need to stay airtight, as leaks can be a cause for contamination. Rubber gasket sheets do not only stop leaks from these pipes; they also have to withstand high pressures that might be a future concern. If this happens, industrial gasket sheets like compressed non-asbestos fibre or CNAF and plumbing sheets like PTFE or Teflon can be used depending on the toughness your gasket sheet needs to be.
Everyday Uses for Rubber Gasket Sheets
Knowing what a rubber gasket sheet is even if you’ve never bought one before is a game changer, especially if you are the one fixing the issues in your household. Here’s how you’ll know where you will be using it:
- Kitchen appliances that need sealing, like refrigerators, pressure cookers, or blenders, ensure a tight seal so that you’ll feel safe while using them.
- Sealing your faucet to stop water, sealing some leaks from the drain pipes, and even protecting the ducting of your air conditioning can make your whole home, especially your bathrooms, sanitised.
- Lastly, fuel pumps and oil filters in your vehicles, like cars or motorcycles, keep fluids where they belong and retain the efficiency of your vehicles for a long time.
