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Gaskets and O-rings are two common types of seals widely used in fast-moving industries. They are both used to stop the leakage of liquids, gases, or other media, but there are some differences between them. If you don’t understand the differences, you may choose incorrectly. This post will help you understand their similarities and core differences to help you choose a better sealing solution.
What is a gasket?
A gasket is designed to act as a seal between two surfaces, preventing extrusion to supplement the support. They are generally flat or slightly curved seals, mostly round, and can be made to fit various shapes and sizes of sealing surfaces, depending on the shape of the sealing surface.
What is an O-Ring?
O-rings are round seals used to form a seal around a round object. They are usually made of rubber or other elastomeric materials and designed to fit snugly around the object they are sealing. O-rings are usually used in applications where the pressure is high or the sealing needs to be very tight for static sealing as well as for reciprocating motion.
Gaskets and O-Rings are the same:
Gaskets and O-rings are both sealing; when the sealing contact pressure is greater than the pressure of the medium to be sealed, the O-ring forms a compression which prevents the leakage of liquids or gases to achieve the sealing effect;
If the seal contact pressure is less than the pressure of the medium to be sealed, the gasket or O-ring is open, allowing liquid or gas leakage.
Gaskets and O-rings are made of flexible materials; gaskets can also be made of harder materials, such as rigid polymer materials or metal.
Differences between gaskets and O-rings:
The main differences between O-rings and gaskets are their shape, application, and sealing performance.
Shape: O-rings are round or annular in appearance, requiring a groove, and are used to seal on cylindrical or round surfaces, whereas gaskets are usually flat or slightly curved and are used in applications where the surface being sealed is irregular or where there is a gap that needs to be filled.
Applications: O-rings are typically used in applications where pressures are high, or the seal needs to be very tight, such as in dynamic applications like hydraulic cylinder pistons. They maintain a seal even when stationary or in motion. In contrast, gaskets are typically used in applications where the surface to be sealed is stationary, such as pipe flanges, bearing glands, etc., and come in various forms and materials.
Comparison of sealing performance: O-rings have excellent sealing performance and are effective in stopping leakage in both planar and radial directions. For gaskets in specific cases, such as pipe joints plane sealing when the oil leakage problem occurs, it may be necessary to replace the O-ring or adjust the tightening force to achieve the effect of preventing leakage, providing a more convenient and economical solution.
In summary, O-rings and gaskets each have unique advantages and applications. The decision to use O-rings or gaskets needs to be based on specific application scenarios and working conditions to achieve the best sealing effect.
TYS gaskets are mainly designed for hydraulic seals, with material choices such as FKM, nylon or PTFE, POM, etc. They are used for support or anti-extrusion roles and are used in conjunction with the main seal on piston seals or rod seals to extend the service life of the main seal. If you need to use gaskets or O-rings, you can contact us at any time to help you.
