How Choosing the Best Gasket Material Saved the Day for this Chemical Application
Understanding the proper gasket materials that should be used in coordination with specific chemicals is crucial for manufacturers. The presence of hazardous substances in
the surrounding atmosphere not only leads to production downtime but also poses a safety risk to plant personnel and the environment.
When a manufacturer was experiencing chlorine gas leaks, they reached out to the team at Expert Gasket & Seal for insight and solutions. Upon conducting some research, it was
discovered that the customer had been using virgin PTFE to seal chlorine gas at temperatures exceeding 400°F. Virgin PTFE is prone to creep and cold flow, which led to the client’s premature gasket failure. While large spiral-wound gaskets were an option, the costs for crating and shipping these oversized gaskets could be prohibitive.
Solution
Durlon 9000 is available in a 60” x 60” sheet, which can be cut to specific gasket sizes without the need for crating or the worry of a Spiral wound gasket “un-winding”. Expert Gasket & Seal chose this option for the client.
Results
By switching to an approved gasket material suitable for direct chlorine contact, the customer was able to operate more safely while protecting the environment and reducing
downtime. This change ensured safer operations for plant personnel, minimized the risk of environmental releases and improved overall operational efficiency.