Why one might coat a gasket?
There are many reasons why one might coat a gasket. The motive may vary, but one thing is certain – a quality coating is necessary. Today, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why you may want to coat your gaskets as well as the types of coatings you should be seeking out and how they may be applied.
Continue reading for some of the why’s and how’s of coating gaskets.
Why Coat?
Whether your decision to coat your gaskets is driven by performance or cosmetic needs, there is a coating to meet your requirements. Here are a few reasons why you may choose to coat your gaskets.
1. You want to stand out.
Sometimes it is strictly cosmetic. You want your gaskets to be red, so you coat them, and everyone knows red gaskets belong to you. Users receive the benefits of the coating, but your main goal is branding.
2. You need to provide some ‘slip’ in your joint.
Do you have a lot of movement between your flanges? Movement can be caused by expansion and contraction of the metals and sometimes those happen at different rates. Having an anti-stick coating on your gaskets protects them from damage and allows them to move with the flanges.
3. You intend to try to reuse your gaskets.
Although it usually isn’t recommended by those in the gasket industry, there are some users that try and successfully reuse gaskets. Coated gaskets tend to not see as much wear and tear during use, and typically can be removed without much damage.
4. You need an easier teardown.
Sometimes speed and efficiency is a necessity during teardown, or you have better things to do than spend hours bent over a flange chipping away at a gasket. Regardless, coatings provide anti-stick properties that allow for a clean release from the flanges.
5. Seal improvement
Coatings can also provide “micro-sealability”. In the case of fiber-based products, coatings can saturate the fibers and block potential leak paths through the body of the gasket.
How to Coat?
The first thing to understand is the difference between your choices in coatings. Some coatings contain a release agent for anti-stick properties, while others contain polymer compounds for enhanced sealing.
To apply the coatings, it ultimately depends on the form in which the coating is produced. However, typical means of application are spraying, rolling, dipping or brushing. Depending on your preferences, it can be added to materials prior to being cut or applied to finished parts. Coating a cut part is preferred, as the coating will then be applied to the inner and outer sealing edges for full encapsulation.
Know Your Need, Make Your Selection
Once you have decided that a coating is necessary for your gaskets, you just need to find the one that best fits your need. Most gasket material suppliers are familiar with coatings, so if you have any questions, talk to one you trust to get the answers you are looking for.
Should YOU be coating YOUR gaskets? If so, learn more about TechCoat, our product line of specialty coatings! If you are interested in subscribing to Sealed-In’s blog posts, email sales@mtigasket.com.
