You’re gradually sifting through a mountain of gasketing material resources when you notice somebody referring to graphite gaskets.

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But what makes graphite gaskets different from all the other sealing materials you’ve seen?

The gasketing projects at Strouse use many different materials to fit each design’s purpose. If flexible graphite seems like your ideal material, then it’s essential to understand its characteristics before going into production. 

As you read, you’ll learn more about graphite gasket uses, pros and cons, and where to find them if they fit your project.

What Are Graphite Gaskets Used For?

Graphite is a non-porous material with a high melting point. Graphite gaskets are primarily used for high-temperature, high-pressure sealing solutions.

Some common examples of graphite gasket uses are exhaust pipes, head gaskets, oil and petrochemical facilities, vehicle engines, corrugated metal gasket coatings, and dynamic or shaft seals.

In addition, they are often looked at as non-metallic and non-asbestos gasketing alternatives. 

GRAPHITE GASKET MATERIAL

Flexible graphite is a soft material that can get into surface irregularities once compressed, leading to a sealing effect. It can also be used as dynamic seals for equipment in motion because it has some natural lubricant that minimizes shaft wear. 

Some graphite properties depend on the level of purity of the material you use. For instance, high-purity graphite can be brittle, which isn’t suitable for every project. You’ll want to choose a material that suits your purpose or factor additional support into your final design.

Additional support often comes in laminated foils or attached wire mesh, reinforcing the gaskets. 

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR A GRAPHITE GASKET

Graphite can typically withstand temperatures up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit, although this could depend on the material blend. 

Compared to other heat resistant gasket materials, graphite gaskets have a lower thermal expansion, meaning they’ll keep their size under the high temperatures they might encounter. Thermal expansion can cause pipes carrying hot water or steam to burst.

You might therefore choose a graphite gasket, which has a low chance of changing shape, for high-temp applications where you don’t want thermal expansion.

Finally, it’s worth noting that lower-grade graphite might contain impurities that oxidize in temperatures lower than expected, causing seal failure. Matching the grade of your graphite to your temperature requirement will help prevent these types of accidents. 

How Do Graphite Gaskets Compare to Others? 

Flexible graphite gaskets can reach high temperatures while maintaining resistance to liquids and gasses. Yet, any higher than 850 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll want to consider using mica or vermiculite.

Graphite gaskets are fire-safe but non-reusable. They also have a higher tendency toward oxidation and lower tensile strength. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Flexible graphite wire custom. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

While graphite is softer and can suffer from cracks, flexible graphite seals remain sturdy when compressed between flanges. Depending on your design and chosen material, they can be more affordable than other options. 

Where Can I Find Graphite Gaskets? 

Finding graphite gaskets will depend on the complexity of your gasket material and design.

If you need a simple, circular graphite gasket, you can likely find premade gaskets of the proper specifications from one of many industrial supply stores. However, gaskets with more complex designs or made from high-purity graphite sheets might be more challenging to acquire. 

When searching for custom gaskets, you’ll find yourself stumbling upon flexible material converters like Strouse, who offer to make your design.

Die Formed Flexible Graphite

Formed Flexible Graphite is proven to be the solution to keeping VOC levels on Valves and pumps to an acceptable level. What begins as Ribbon Pack, becomes custom-shaped parts. With the addition of metal end caps, wire mesh or braided packing, flexible graphite can be made to resist extrusion and maintain a seal better than any other fluid sealing product.

Die Formed

Flexible Graphite

Graphite Comes In Many Forms Including Sheet, Cut Gaskets, And Die Formed Rings. It Is Formed Into Specific Shapes Including Cone, Square, Round, And Rectangular, To Seal Valves Or Pumps From Leakage. It Starts As A Sheet Which Is Then Stripped So It Can Be Wound Into A Die For Forming.

GRAFOIL® Flexible Graphite Seals & Gaskets

GRAFOIL flexible graphite, became a highly successful replacement for asbestos in high temperature sealing and chemical applications in the ’s.

Flexible graphites flexibility, resilience, and conformability enables AS&P to provide a variety of styles and products, providing our customers with individually designed flexible graphite based products and solutions for diverse applications in a wide range of industries. American Seal & Packing (AS&P) supplies GRAFOIL® Flexible Graphite in the following forms: Sheet, Braided, Die Formed, Cut Gaskets and Ribbon Pack and cord stock.

Ribbon Pack® Is A Registered Trademark Of Graftech. Flexible Graphite Stripped And Crinkeled Allows The Graphite To Be Wrapped Around A Stem, Shaft Or Sleeve Without Cracking. Crinkeled Flexible Graphite Is Used For Valves In The Field, Or To Make Die Formed Packing Sets. The Most Common Industries That Rely On This Form Of Flexible Graphite Include:. Refineries,Solar Power Plants, Steam Co_Generation, Nuclear, Fossil Fuel, Chemical, Aerospace, Etc. Ideal For Chemical And High Temperature Applications.

Once The Flexible Graphite Has Been Slit, Crinkeled And Wrapped Around The Die Mandrel, It Is Compressed With The Mating Die To Form A Ring.

Die Formed Cup And Cone Design. Often Provides The Lowest Of Leak Rates. Now A Standard In The Valve Industry. Combination Sets With Peek Or Altering Density Rings Are Solving API Leakage Requirments.Die Formed Flexible Graphite Center Rings

Flexible Graphite Can Extrude. Having The Advantage Of High Conformity Also Has The Disadvantage Of Being Soft Enough To Be Pushed Out Under High Pressure.The Solution To This Enharent Problem Is The Addition Of Stianless Steel Or Inconel Wire. Various Percentages Of Wire Or End Caps Provide Varied Performance. In Applications With High Pulsations And Heat Such As Exahust Gaskets A High Percentage Of Wire Is Desired. In Applications Where Maximum Seal Effectness And Conformity Are Required Graphite Would Be The Major Component But Can Have Metal End Caps For Containment Under Pressure.

Die Formed Graphite Sets For Valves Lowf Leak Rates Are Always The Objective And We Have Multiple Ways To Get Your There. These Sets Combine Braided Flexible Graphite Endrings That Contain Wire For Pressure Containment And A Cup And Cone Base. We Have Provided Many Variations. Working With The Valve Industry To Solve Problems Of Effectivness, Cost And Delivery.

Carbon Yarn End Rings In Graphite Sets Are The Most Common Addition To A Flexible Graphite Set. The Reason Carbon Yarn Works So Well Is Beacuse Like Graphite It Is Also 95+% Carbon. It Handles The Same Temperature. Beacuse It Is Braided It Provides The Dual Funtion Of Being A Wiper And Anti-Extrusion Device. This Is Especially Helpful In Rising Stem Valves.

Quality: One Caution With Flexible Graphite Is To Know What You Are Getting. Graphite May All Look The Same, But The Quality Of The Graphite Varies Greatly. We Always Incurage Specifying The Brand Of Graphite You Use. Grafoil Is Always Our First Recommendation.

Nothing seals as well as Grafoil®. It is a unique material in that it can diced into a peices and then formed into a single piece again. We offer the quality flexible graphite gasket material in sheet or cut gaskets too. If a refinery or chemical plant has a VOC leaks, chances are we are sealing it with flexible graphite. If you want to be assured of quality, specify Grafoil® . We’re finding better ways to serve our customers all the time. In addition to our expanding line of industrial seals, we’re updating our production capabilities and streamlining our process to provide you quality parts when you need them.

Are you interested in learning more about Flexible graphite wire supplier? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Grafoil Die
Formed Sets

What is the difference between Grafoil and generic flexible graphite?

There are two significant factors that affect the quality of flexible graphite. The purity of the graphite, and the method used to expand the graphite powder into flexible graphite. Generally, there are two acids used to cause the reaction that makes graphite pop like popcorn into the expanded worms flexible graphite is made from. Nucleic and Sulfuric acid do the job, but there is a difference. Sulfuric acid leaves over 400 ppm of sulfur in the material. Sulfur will cause pitting on 400-grade stainless steel damaging the surface you’re trying to seal. Sulfur is cheaper for the manufacturers to use, but due to the surface, they can cause, expensive for end-users to use.