What is the life of a rubber gasket?

06 May.,2024

 

Gasket Storage, Shelf and Service Life

Gasket Storage, Shelf and Service Life

Rubber has a shelf life, most of our materials used for gaskets have some rubber component. The shelf life refers to the time the gasket is still usable for service. So, if the rubber is nearing the end of its shelf life, it is still considered suitable for service use. If it has exceeded its shelf life, in order to extend the service life, the gaskets should be re-made.

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Storage

Gaskets should be stored in a cool, ambient location, between 4⁰C and 27⁰C Excessive humidity (40% to 75% relative humidity), direct sunlight and any chemical vapours should not be present. Low UV producing lights and minimal dust. These optimum storage conditions can increase a gaskets shelf life significantly.

Material Type and Average Recommended Shelf Life*

Material Type Recommended Shelf Life Silicone 20 years Viton 20 years Neoprene 5-10 years EPDM 5-10 years Butyl 5-10 years Nitrile 5-10 years SBR 3-5 years Natural Rubber 3-5 years Natural Fibre 2-5 years Non-Asbestos Fibre 5-10 years

*Shelf-life varies for specific materials and shelf-life for specific materials can be requested. This is a general guide.

Non-Asbestos Fibre

Non-asbestos fibre materials are not designed to be stored for extended periods of time. The complex nature of the materials used, reinforcing fibres, rubber binder and filler mean the material is susceptible to storage changes. The fibre component is the most stable but gradually dries out, weathers and deteriorate. The filler is the biggest culprit, the filler optimizes gasket performance however upon manufacture involves an irreversible chemical process which allows for a shelf life of between 5-10 years.

RAM’s Products

RAM has been cutting gaskets and materials for nearly 50 years. In that time material shipping, delivery and manufacturing methods have improved greatly to increase product turnaround and re-ordering of materials Using LEAN principles in our manufacture and ordering of goods allows RAM to store only the optimal volumes of stocked materials.

Material Supply Chain

We cut huge quantities of materials which allows us to turn over our stock material quickly. Specific Batch and Cure dates can be requested when the longest possible shelf-life is required. As companies across the supply chain adopt LEAN principles, lower and more regular order volumes allows for the quality of the products to be maintained.

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    How long do rubber gaskets last?

    How long do rubber gaskets last?

    As a business owner, plant supervisor or maintenance manager you likely have to deal with the dreaded gasket failure at some point. Predicting the lifespan of a gasket can be hit and miss. However, there are some measures that you can take to safeguard the longevity of your rubber gasket. TRP Polymer Solutions has compiled some essential tips about how to preserve your rubber gaskets.

    The cost of gasket failures

    There are no two ways about it; a gasket failure is a major headache. For such a small and relatively inexpensive component, a failed gasket can wreak havoc in any plant, invariably leading to costly downtime. Beyond the obvious loss of productivity, there is also a drain on resources in the form of necessary maintenance and repair work to get your operations back up and running. That’s not to mention the possibility of injuries to personnel.

    Therefore, paying close attention to the health of your gaskets really should be a priority, if it isn’t already, to ensure the safe and efficient running of your plant machinery.

    Types of gasket failure

    There are basically two types of gasket failures, a catastrophic failure of a gasket, which can lead to instant and urgent leakage of your media and chronic leakage, caused by the gradual deterioration of a gasket over time, which can cause small but still significant leaks.

    Both types of gasket failure can often be attributed to the following common factors:

    • Temperature
    • Uneven flange surfaces
    • Stress relaxation and torque loss
    • Uneven pressure forces at the joint

    One thing we would certainly recommend is to keep a historical log of failures and the reasons for these occurrences. This will enable you to ascertain any trends and inform any corrective measures that need to be taken to prevent any future failures. It’s worth noting that corrective measures entail fixing the root cause and developing mechanisms that will prevent any recurrence, rather than simply replacing the gasket and hoping for the best.

    How to preserve rubber gaskets

    There are three major considerations to bear in mind when it comes to preserving your gaskets:

    1. Material selection

    Choosing the right material may seem like an obvious choice but it is surprising how many applications are fitted with incorrect gaskets. Whether it’s the wrong chemical compatibility or the wrong material for your temperature exposure, this mistake can have dire consequences for your processes.

    2. Gasket quality

    Cost can make a big difference. If you buy cheap, you have to consider where the manufacturers have cut costs. Materials are usually of a poorer quality and may be poorly manufactured.

    3. Installation

    Installation is the most important contributor to gasket life. An incorrectly installed gasket will be likely to fail prematurely, with the associated downtime and replacement costs.

    TRP Polymer Solutions reduces the risk of gasket failure

    Here at TRP Polymer Solutions, we can influence your gasket selection and the quality of your chosen gasket(s) – both for the better. We can provide extremely proficient technical advice from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable and experienced polymer technologists, as well as ensuring the performance and durability of your gasket, using our advanced manufacturing processes.

    We don’t do low performance, off-the-shelf products that use inferior materials. TRP Polymer Solutions specialises in developing high performance custom rubber components (including gaskets), in a range of specialist rubber and PTFE materials, which deliver enhanced flexibility, extended service, temperature resistance, chemical resistance and reduced permeability.

    As part of our rigorous design and manufacturing processes, we can design and formulate innovative new materials using state-of-the-art processes, including component design CAD, polymer FEA and feasibility DFMEA. We also carry out a Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to test the integrity of our designs, to ensure that your rubber gasket is truly built to last.

    For more information about TRP’s rubber gaskets, or for expert advice on gasket installation, call us today on +44(0)1432 268899 to speak to one of our technical team or email us at sales@trp.co.uk.

     

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