Spiral Wound Gaskets
One of the most popular seal options, you can rely on Universal Gaskets for high-quality, spiral wound gaskets for your business.
What Are Spiral Wound Gaskets?
Spiral wound gaskets are a reliable gasket with numerous benefits and uses (outlined further below). They are known for their excellent performance and consistent compressibility. This durable gasket takes a circular spiral form and is made from both metallic and filler materials.
The outer ring layer of a spiral wound gasket is made from metal which allows it to provide structural support and act as a compression stop. The inner layer, is made from a filler material and complements the outer by acting as a powerful seal. This gasket is useful for a variety of industries such as oil, gas and petrochemical processing. More details on its uses are outlined below.
What Materials Are Spiral Wound Gaskets Made From?
The spiral wound gasket is made from alternating layers of different materials; it consists of a mix of metallic and filler material meaning it is a semi-metallic gasket. As its name suggests, this gasket takes the form of a circular spiral. While there are other shapes possible, this is the common and more popular form you are most likely to come across or require.
Outer Layer
The spiral wound gasket has a metal material wound around its outer ring. It is a defining characteristic that the gasket’s outer winding material is metal. This solid outer ring that makes up this gasket type, acts as its centering ring and assists in controlling compression by acting as a compression stop. It gives the gasket strong structural support and minimises its chances of experiencing material creep or deformation.
Inner Layer
The inner ring of the gasket is made from a filler material, usually some kind of flexible granite or other materials such as PTFE. It is wound in a circular motion but will start and finish on the opposing side to the outer ring. The inner ring of the spiral wound gasket is used for sealing while the outer provides its support.
Manufacturing Custom Spiral-Wound Gaskets
To support being used in tougher conditions there can be variations in the materials used within spiral wound gaskets and in some cases an additional ring. You should never take risks with your mechanical seals especially when they are used for high-risk industries in terms of injury and safety, such as power generation, petrochemical processing, hardware, healthcare, electrical, electronics, air conditioning, mining or defence.
Talk to professional suppliers about your requirements and concerns regarding spiral wound gaskets or custom gaskets. At Universal Gaskets, we aren’t just knowledgeable about gasket manufacturing - we are manufacturers, so we can always give you the right answers with a high degree of confidence.
We manufacture and supply our range of spiral wound gaskets at Universal Gaskets. We procure our base materials and sell our products nationally and internationally. We prefer to source our materials locally; however where we have sufficient volume and/or where we cannot find a reliable supplier, we procure materials globally, mainly from our partner manufacturers in China, United Kingdom and the United States.
Spiral Wound Gasket Uses
Spiral wound gaskets are widely used throughout the following industries.
- Refineries and chemical processing plants
- Hydrocarbon processing and refining
- Petroleum and petrochemical industries
- Oil and gas generation industries
- Power generation
- Pulp and paper industries
- Valve and specialty applications
These are one of the best all-rounder seals, offering a generally low-cost solution that combines fire resistance and the ability to handle temperature and pressure fluctuations. Multiple wraps of metal and filler in the spiral of this gasket creates barriers that reduce the possibility of leaks.
Can Spiral Wound Gaskets Be Reused?
This is a commonly asked question as many will consider re-using their spiral wound gaskets. Since they are generally made from sturdy, long-lasting metals and other materials, when they appear to be in a considerably decent condition, reusing them can seem a fair method of cutting costs for your company.
The answer to this question however, is a no, at all costs.
For the sake of your personal safety, the safety of your business and materials and general efficiency - it is not recommendable to reuse a spiral wound gasket, or any seal that is used under pressure.
The risk of damage is most certainly not worth the money saved. The flange load will, over time, permanently compress the metal in the gasket and although they are powerful seals, second-use of a spiral wound gasket can be counter-intuitive by causing process leaks or damage.
Your Options At Universal Gaskets
A spiral gasket can be made to almost any dimensions required, and with combinations of different fillers. You may require different chemical compatibility and temperature requirements, a selection from filler materials include ceramic (-350°F to 2000°F), flexible graphite (-350°F to 850°F), PTFE (-400°F to 500°F), mica graphite (-350°F to 600°F).
Some have found this new gasket sheet replaces spiral wound gaskets, removing the spiral leak path and by eliminating the need for a compression ring (to prevent crushing).
