Why Flexible Graphite’s Consistent Quality Is Ideal for Seals, Packings & Gaskets

By Bob Rutherford, FSA Member [Linked article from FSA publication site]

Many associations, societies and regulatory agencies have rewritten and redeveloped emissions and leakage standards and controls year after year. The partial list of organizations—based on voluntary consensus, regulation or legislation—includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Petroleum Institute (API), International Standards Organization (ISO), Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) and TA Luft. When the process rules are changed, manufacturers of seals, packing and gaskets are forced to implement changes as well. The manufacturers either produce seals that are better suited to handle the new regulations or they drop out of the market. These changes affect the way end users must look at the quality of flexible graphite and its ability to seal.

Installed Density

Flexible graphite is one of only a few sealing materials that increases density through compression and compaction. This significant ability is called installed density…

Weight Loss

Several factors can cause a flexible graphite seal or gasket to lose density, including mechanical load loss or material loss. The degradation method that is seldom identified, however, is weight loss of the base material. This is why consistent quality of flexible graphite is critical. Flexible graphite is known as a high-temperature material, but high-temperature applications pose the risk of oxidation and gasket or
seal weight loss…

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2 Comments on “Why Flexible Graphite’s Consistent Quality Is Ideal for Seals, Packings & Gaskets

  1. We just installed brand new granite countertops and would like to get a permanent seal put on as soon as possible something that lasts forever.
    Please advise

    • What you need is a liquid seal that can penetrate into micro cracks in granite. You should be able to find that in stores like the Home Depot. Flexible graphite is mainly used as a solid seal, such as a gasket of o-ring.