Understanding Gasket Pressure

High & Low Pressure Gasket Material Used To Create A Reliable Seal.
Flat and flexible gaskets, metallic spiral wounds, and ring type joints all require pressure in order to form a reliable seal.
The pressure, or force, a gasket is placed under enables it to flow into any irregularities on a mating surface to block any

What factors affect the pressure a gasket is placed under? There are many factors, including: operating temperature an
It is important to know the pressures a gasket will be required to withstand, both from a well-connected flange face and
pressure of the internal and external environments that the gasket is required to be protecting against.

Gasket Class Or Pressure Rating System

The most common standard prescribing the geometry of flanges is ASME (previously ANSI). Within the ASME pressure r
150
300
400
600
900
1500
2500

A Class 300 flange will handle more pressure than a Class 150 flange, simply because it has been made with more metal
more pressure; and so on up through the classes. The pressure class or rating for flanges is given in lbs. For example: 15
The flange class or pressure rating system extends to gaskets designed for those flanges. So, for example, a class 150 ga
The overall pressure rating of the gasket ultimately depends on the material used for the gasket and the operating temp

Pressure and Temperature Variations

As pressure increases the temperature that the flange will maintain falls.
Conversely, as the pressure decreases a higher temperature can be maintained. The selection of suitable gasket materia

Pipe and Flange Construction and Gasket Pressure

Gaskets are typically fixed by bolts under load around the flange face. The gasket either encompasses the bolts (called a
To maintain seal integrity pressure must remain on the gasket surface to prevent leakage.
Under operating conditions this pressure is relieved by internal pressure which acts to separate the flanges.
The gasket itself is also subject to a side loading, where the internal fluid pressure can cause the gasket to extrude throu
To continue to maintain a seal the pressure from compression on the gasket must be greater than the internal pressure

How Do Gaskets Behave Under Pressure?

Gaskets need to perform in many different conditions, which is why there are a huge number of gasket materials and co
The main factors that need to be considered when specifying a gasket are temperature, chemical resistance, and pressu
Even in the same environment, gaskets can be subject to different operating conditions.
Below are some of the conditions affecting the pressure to which a gasket will be subject; and how the gasket is likely to

Stress Relaxation of Gasket Material

The performance of the gasket is directly related to the stress retention of the gasket material.
As a material decays or becomes brittle or soft, the stress relaxation of the material is compromised and so is its ability t
Generally, rubber based materials have a shelf-life of seven years. In critical application it is important to ensure that ru
within its shelf life. Where required we can supply material or parts with batch and cure dates, so that customers can be

Gasket Material Thickness & Pressure

As a general rule, the thinnest possible gasket material for the application should be chosen.
The reason for this is that thinner materials present a surface area (the smallest ID, or inner diameter) for pressure to ac
Having said this, the choice of material thickness also needs to take into consideration the amount of compression requ
flange distortion or misalignment – and this is especially true when using fibre based gasket materials.

Flange Quality & Pressure

The quality of the finish of the metalwork on a flange is critical to the correct sealing of a joint using a gasket.
The surface finish should not be too rough, otherwise a leak-path can form under the gasket.
Standard pipe flanges often have a groove across the sealing face, which the gasket deforms into under pressure; and th
of the gasket across the flange face. Any flange damage should be fixed before re-inserting a gasket.
The mating flanges should be made from the same material and machined identically to allow pressure to be evenly dis

Tensile Strength
The strength of gasket material as an isolated piece is not critical to its sealing performance.
For example: graphite is soft, pliable, and cracks and breaks easily. However, when compressed between flanges it form
seal that can be subjected to high temperatures and steam without failing. As with fibre gasket material, the thinner the

Load Seal-ability
All gaskets leak to varying degrees (even if the leak is so small that it can only be detected with a mass spectrometer).
If all gaskets leak, this raises the question: why use gaskets at all? Why not just machine and weld all surfaces?
The answer is that huge lengths of pipework require servicing. Gaskets perform well at preventing leakages at the joints
whilst allowing the joints to be uncoupled; and the gaskets replaced as and when required.
If testing of a leakage is required, such as in the manufacture of aeroplane wings, parts are often pressurised with helium
tested with a helium detector (mass spectrometer). Such leaks may be considered undetectable in every-day practical a
measure them in critical sealing applications to test the quality of the gaskets and bolt loading of the joint. We can supp

Minimum Gasket Pressure, Installation, and ROTT testing.

A minimum amount of compression is needed to seal a gasket on the flange surfaces.
Tightening the bolts on the flange adds additional compression which blocks any permeability through the gasket.
This permeability varies between different materials, but as a general rule leak rates decrease as compressive load incre
The state of the contents of the pipe, such as molecular size (liquid, gas) will affect the stress needed to create a seal.
The stresses required to seal gases are higher than the minimum stresses necessary for the gasket to conform to the fla
Metal Gaskets require a greater stress to compress and seal than flexible gaskets.
When using flexible non-metallic gaskets, the ability of the joint to hold internal pressure depends on friction.
The minimum compressive stress will need to be high enough to maintain the friction needed to keep the gasket from b
The test that determines the constant sealing pressure is the ROTT (Room Temperature Tightness) test.
Increasing temperature creates gasket relaxation, and subsequent relaxation in the bold load (sometimes bolt-load loss
initial gasket stress). For this reason, depending on the gasket type, it is advisable to re-torque after the first heat cycle.
Ultimately if a flexible gasket is under too much pressure it will extrude out around the flange, and eventually exit right
and externally. In this situation, if it is an old gasket, servicing and replacement is sufficient.
If this is a continuing problem a more rigid material that can cope with: greater stress relaxation, more diverse operatin
and produce no swelling when in contact with chemicals, will need to be used. If you require support then please conta

Low Pressure Gaskets (Vacuum Environment)

Sealing a vacuum presents unique challenges. Generally softer materials are more effective at sealing in a vacuum: for in

High Pressure Gaskets

Chart showing the Upper Pressure, Common Gasket materials can be expected to perform to:
Gasket Material
Rubber, Nitrile, EPDM, BUTYL, Neoprene, Viton
and Silicone.
Non-Asbestos Fibre
Non-Asbestos with SS Tanged Insert
Compressed Graphite – tanged Stainless Steel
Insertion
Compressed graphite
PTFE
Expanded PTFE
Natural Rubber
Neoprene Foam, Nitrile Foam, EPDM Foam,
Silicone Foam
Mica Hi-Temp (rigid material).
Firefly – Ceramic

The above information shows the upper pressure common gasket materials can be expected to perf
Remember to consider the temperature and chemical resistance required when determining your ch

Gasket Pressure: Codes and Standards

Classes and standards describes the geometry of the flange.
The most common flange standard used in most countries in oil, gas and mining is ASME B16.5 and B16.34. B
including materials, dimensions, tolerances, marking and testing, both in metric and US customary units. B16
ASME was previously ANSI, and these can now be considered one and the same.
Older flange specifications may still list ANSI.
However, all newly rated flange joints will be ASME (the American National Standard).
In Europe PN rated flanges and BS4504 are also commonly used flange ratings. 
PN (Pressure Numbers) is the rating designator followed by a designation number indicating the approximate
PN ratings do not provide a proportional relationship between different PN numbers, whereas class numbers
For a dimensions table of ANSI standard flanges please see here.
o Create A Reliable Seal.
g type joints all require pressure in order to form a reliable seal.
it to flow into any irregularities on a mating surface to block any leakages and so form a seal.

er? There are many factors, including: operating temperature and the manufacture of the flanges.

quired to withstand, both from a well-connected flange face and the
t the gasket is required to be protecting against.

of flanges is ASME (previously ANSI). Within the ASME pressure rating system there are seven pressure classes:

ss 150 flange, simply because it has been made with more metal and so can withstand
ressure class or rating for flanges is given in lbs. For example: 150lb, 150 lbs, 150#, or class 150 – are all equivalent.
askets designed for those flanges. So, for example, a class 150 gasket is designed to seal under a load of up to 150 lbs of pressure in a class 150 flange.
ends on the material used for the gasket and the operating temperature.
will maintain falls.
ature can be maintained. The selection of suitable gasket materials must be considered together with the flange design bolting and materials of constru

he flange face. The gasket either encompasses the bolts (called a ‘full faced ’ gasket) or sits inside the bolts (known as an IBC or ‘ring type’ gasket).
gasket surface to prevent leakage.
internal pressure which acts to separate the flanges.
the internal fluid pressure can cause the gasket to extrude through the flange clearance space.
ression on the gasket must be greater than the internal pressure by some multiple, depending on the gasket type and level of tightness required.

which is why there are a huge number of gasket materials and configurations to choose from.
cifying a gasket are temperature, chemical resistance, and pressure.
o different operating conditions.
e to which a gasket will be subject; and how the gasket is likely to act under load.

stress retention of the gasket material.

ss relaxation of the material is compromised and so is its ability to withstand pressure.
even years. In critical application it is important to ensure that rubber based material is used
erial or parts with batch and cure dates, so that customers can be sure to only install gaskets that will not fail due to perishing material.

for the application should be chosen.

urface area (the smallest ID, or inner diameter) for pressure to act upon, and so are less likely to fail.
eeds to take into consideration the amount of compression required to take up any
y true when using fibre based gasket materials.

critical to the correct sealing of a joint using a gasket.

leak-path can form under the gasket.
ealing face, which the gasket deforms into under pressure; and this also helps to limit the displacement
should be fixed before re-inserting a gasket.
erial and machined identically to allow pressure to be evenly distributed across the bolt and flange surfaces.
 ot critical to its sealing performance.
eaks easily. However, when compressed between flanges it forms an excellent
eam without failing. As with fibre gasket material, the thinner the graphite gasket the better the resistance to overall pressure.

o small that it can only be detected with a mass spectrometer).

ets at all? Why not just machine and weld all surfaces?
rvicing. Gaskets perform well at preventing leakages at the joints in lengths of pipework,
kets replaced as and when required.
acture of aeroplane wings, parts are often pressurised with helium and the leak-rate is
h leaks may be considered undetectable in every-day practical applications – but it is important to
quality of the gaskets and bolt loading of the joint. We can supply certified samples of gaskets in different materials for testing.

ROTT testing.
gasket on the flange surfaces.
pression which blocks any permeability through the gasket.
ut as a general rule leak rates decrease as compressive load increases.
size (liquid, gas) will affect the stress needed to create a seal.
minimum stresses necessary for the gasket to conform to the flange surfaces.
seal than flexible gaskets.
the joint to hold internal pressure depends on friction.
nough to maintain the friction needed to keep the gasket from blowing out from the internal pressure.
is the ROTT (Room Temperature Tightness) test.
ubsequent relaxation in the bold load (sometimes bolt-load losses can be as high as 50% of the
gasket type, it is advisable to re-torque after the first heat cycle.
e it will extrude out around the flange, and eventually exit right out of the flange space both internally
vicing and replacement is sufficient.
t can cope with: greater stress relaxation, more diverse operating temperatures,
s, will need to be used. If you require support then please contact us for technical advice.

y softer materials are more effective at sealing in a vacuum: for instance, consider using natural rubbers and butyls. Polyurethane is another soft polyme

Gasket materials can be expected to perform to:

 Maximum Pressure
150 psi

 750 – 1500 psi (50 – 100 Bar)

2500 psi (172 Bar)

+2800 psi (193 Bar)

2100 psi 144 Bar

800 psi 55 Bar
3000 psi 206 Bar
100 psi 6.8 Bar

Same as elastomer

2030 psi (290 Bar)

ure common gasket materials can be expected to perform to.

hemical resistance required when determining your choice of material.

of the flange.
ountries in oil, gas and mining is ASME B16.5 and B16.34. B16.5 covers pressure-temperature ratings
ng and testing, both in metric and US customary units. B16.34 covers the pressure/temperature ratings.
be considered one and the same.

E (the American National Standard).

mmonly used flange ratings. 
owed by a designation number indicating the approximate pressure rating in bars.  
hip between different PN numbers, whereas class numbers do.
ease see here.
pressure in a class 150 flange.
bolting and materials of construction.

IBC or ‘ring type’ gasket).

vel of tightness required.

shing material.
urethane is another soft polymer with a great ‘rubbery ’ consistency, that deforms and seals effectively when creating a vacuum. Our technical departme
vacuum. Our technical department can support the correct choice of material for your particular requirements within a low-pressure environment.
a low-pressure environment.