Rubber Gaskets: High-Performance Flat Sealing Solutions for Industrial, Automotive, Plumbing & Manufacturing

EPDM Rubber Gaskets

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) gaskets excel in water-based systems, steam applications, and outdoor environments where UV and ozone exposure would rapidly degrade other materials.

Their saturated polymer backbone lacks the double bonds vulnerable to oxidative attack, providing exceptional weathering resistance. These gaskets maintain flexibility and sealing force through temperature cycling from -40°C to +120°C, making them the standard choice for HVAC systems, hot water piping, and outdoor plumbing installations.

The specialty of EPDM lies in its superior steam resistance—it doesn't harden or crack even after prolonged exposure to superheated steam. While incompatible with petroleum oils and fuels due to its polar nature, EPDM offers excellent resistance to alkaline chemicals, ketones, and automotive brake fluids.

Nitrile (NBR/Buna-N) Rubber Gaskets

Nitrile gaskets are specifically engineered for petroleum-based fluid resistance, making them the industry standard for automotive oil pans, fuel systems, and hydraulic equipment. The acrylonitrile content (18-40%) determines oil resistance—higher nitrile grades resist aggressive fuels and lubricants but sacrifice low-temperature flexibility.

These gaskets maintain dimensional stability and sealing force when exposed to mineral oils, hydraulic fluids, and aliphatic hydrocarbons that would cause other rubbers to swell dramatically. Their specialty is balancing oil resistance with mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness, though they're unsuitable for aromatic fuels with high benzene content or exposure to strong oxidizers.

The benefit is reliable sealing in oily environments at a fraction of the cost of fluoroelastomers, making them economical for high-volume automotive and industrial applications where oil contact is inevitable.

Silicone Rubber Gaskets

Silicone gaskets provide the broadest usable temperature range (-60°C to +230°C) of any elastomer, maintaining flexibility at extreme cold while resisting degradation at temperatures that would destroy organic rubbers.

Their inorganic silicon-oxygen polymer backbone provides inherent thermal stability and physiological inertness, making them the only choice for many FDA-regulated applications. Available in platinum-cured (highest purity, medical/food grade) or peroxide-cured (industrial grade) formulations, silicone gaskets resist aging, ozone, and many chemicals while remaining completely tasteless and odorless.

Neoprene (CR) Rubber Gaskets

Neoprene gaskets offer balanced performance across multiple properties—moderate oil resistance, good weather resistance, and a reasonable temperature range—making them versatile for general-purpose applications where specialized performance isn't required.

The chlorine atoms in the polymer backbone provide flame resistance and moderate chemical resistance not found in natural rubber. These gaskets perform reliably in refrigeration systems (resist refrigerants), HVAC equipment (outdoor durability), and marine environments (saltwater exposure).

Viton (FKM) Fluoroelastomer Gaskets

Viton gaskets represent the premium tier for chemical resistance, with fluorine atoms bonded to the polymer backbone providing exceptional resistance to acids, petroleum products, and high-temperature fluids that aggressively attack other elastomers.

These gaskets maintain sealing integrity in continuous service up to 200°C (intermittent to 230°C) while resisting concentrated sulfuric acid, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, and other aggressive chemicals.

Natural Rubber (NR) Gaskets

Natural rubber gaskets offer superior physical properties—highest tensile strength, tear resistance, and elasticity among all rubbers—at the lowest material cost. Harvested from Hevea brasiliensis trees, NR provides excellent water resistance and flexibility for indoor applications not involving oils or significant ozone exposure.

These gaskets excel in dynamic sealing applications requiring resilience and energy absorption, such as pump housings and vibration-dampening applications.

SBR (Styrene-Butadiene) Rubber Gaskets

SBR gaskets are synthetic alternatives to natural rubber, offering similar properties with better aging resistance and more consistent quality. These versatile gaskets handle water, mild chemicals, and ambient temperature conditions reliably in construction equipment, water treatment facilities, and general machinery. The styrene content provides abrasion resistance, while butadiene contributes flexibility, creating a balanced general-purpose material.

Food-Grade Rubber Gaskets

Food-grade gaskets are formulated with FDA-compliant compounds manufactured under stringent controls to prevent contamination. These gaskets feature smooth, non-porous surfaces that resist bacterial growth and facilitate CIP (clean-in-place) sanitization procedures. They are manufactured from platinum-cured silicone or FDA-compliant EPDM, are tasteless, odorless, and won't leach compounds into processed foods or beverages.

PTFE (Teflon) Gaskets

PTFE gaskets provide near-universal chemical resistance, remaining inert to virtually all chemicals except molten alkali metals and elemental fluorine. These gaskets withstand temperature extremes from cryogenic to +260°C while exhibiting the lowest coefficient of friction of any solid material. Available as virgin PTFE (100% polymer), filled grades (with glass, carbon, or graphite for dimensional stability), or expanded PTFE (highly conformable microporous structure), these materials are essential for aggressive chemical service.