Gaskets that are to be used for outdoor applications need to be carefully chosen. Such gaskets must be able to resist all kinds of natural elements, even when they are at their extreme. May it be scorching heat, chilly winters, or heavy rainfall; gaskets must be able to withstand all of it to avoid deterioration and leakage. Apart from these rough weather conditions, gaskets must also be able to handle the strong UV rays of the sun. A less-than-proficient gasket material can be easily damaged by the sun. Therefore, weather resistance in terms of gaskets also includes UV resistance. Hence, you must make sure that your gasket material employs these resistance features when its application involves exposure to the environment. Whenever in doubt, you can always approach Trim Engineering Services, the most reliable spiral wound gasket manufacturers in India, who can guide you to choose the best gasket type for your particular application.

Can I choose plain rubber gaskets for outdoor applications?

Although rubber can fulfill all the above requirements that are needed by a gasket to be used in outdoor applications, not all kinds of rubber can prove to be appropriate. With climate dramatically varying throughout the year, the variations magnify by three to four times from season to season. In such conditions, a plain rubber gasket can crack in the scorching heat, or when the chilling winters hit them, or when acid rain drips between the pipes. All of these will highly affect the performance, quality, and lifespan of the gasket, and in turn, the application in which it is used.

Which rubber gaskets can I use?

Polyurethane, belonging to the family of elastomers, an artificial rubber, can help in such conditions. With a unique combination of the strength of rigid plastics and the flexibility and elasticity of rubber, polyurethane remains stable during intense temperature swings. This is why this material is commonly used in the sealing industry. A polyurethane strengthened gasket can optimally perform between -30°C and 110°C, which is the general temperature range for majority of outdoor settings. Moreover, polyurethane seals are comparatively stable when exposed to UV radiation from the sun. However, polyurethane is not the only material that you can use. There are many other synthetic rubbers that exhibit exceptional weather resistance features too, which include silicone, neoprene, fluoroelastomers, and EPDM.

Which other properties must a gasket possess?

Apart from these direct effects of the weather, there are many other elements that a gasket must be able to withstand. For example, there is ozone – a gaseous discharge produced when UV radiation passes through the atmosphere. Next is abrasion, which can be caused by strong winds that can blow up sharp sand and other particulate matter until the gasket becomes frayed. These and many other elements are kept in mind while manufacturing gaskets by professional and experienced spiral wound gasket manufacturers in India so that they can deliver the best to their customers. One such name that tops the list is that of Trim Engineering Services, where you can get all kinds of metallic, semi-metallic, and non-metallic gaskets made from the best materials that elongate the lifespan of the products.