Spiral Wound Gaskets in Aberdeen
Spiral wound gaskets are high-performing sealing solutions designed for some of the harshest, most demanding environments.
Aberdeen, UK
Made from metallic windings and soft filler materials, a spiral-wound metal gasket offers strength, resilience, and conformability.
Well-suited to the oil and gas industries and petrochemical sectors, spiral gaskets provide a tight seal for flange joints that undergo thermal cycling, pressure fluctuations, and mechanical stress, such as the numerous pipelines you will find in Aberdeen, one of the key hubs for offshore and oil and gas operations.
Spiral wound gaskets offer incredibly high sealing performance and durability, and, most importantly, when sourced from SSP, they meet all compliance requirements and industry standards.
What Are Spiral Gaskets?
Spiral-wound gaskets consist of spirally wound metal strips with a filler material and an outer metallic ring that helps hold the windings in place.
These semi-metallic gaskets are designed for one-time use, and it’s important that you choose the correct size and rating of the gasket to ensure a strong connection.
The structure of the gasket spiral consists of the outer ring, also known as the retaining ring or outer ring guide, which is the part of the spiral gasket that makes contact with the stud bolts, helping to align the gasket on the flange face.
The outer ring is also responsible for preventing over compression, which can result in a blowout, with the outer ring not coming into direct contact with the contained fluid.
The inner metal winding is made up of soft filler materials such as PTFE and flexible graphite. The inner ring is also designed to prevent over compression as well as inward buckling.
The thickness of both the inner and outer rings is the same, with the inner ring recommended for vacuum applications and those where high pressure and temperature are apparent (this is because some filler materials have a temperature limit).
Spiral wound gaskets in flange joints
Wound under tension to form a strong sealing element with elasticity, spiral gaskets can recover as they have the strength in their makeup to handle compression with ease.
Precision-manufactured, the filler material of a gasket spiral is designed to fill flange imperfections, with the metal winding providing the structural integrity and spring-like recovery after compression.
Spiral wound gaskets in flange joints are one of the most common metallic gaskets because of their resilience in high-pressure and temperature environments, preventing leaks and offering a long lifespan.
Key benefits of spirally wound gaskets
- High pressure & temperature resistant
- Excellent sealing reliability
- Exceptional resilience
- Have a broad operating range
- Good elasticity recovery
- Offer thermal stability
- Blowout resistance
- Offer chemical compatibility
- Versatile and efficient
Spiral Wound Gaskets, types
There are various gasket spiral types to choose from, and it’s essential that you choose the most suitable for the environment in which it will be placed.
These types include:
(Without rings) – Standard Spiral Gaskets
Most suitable for general-purpose applications and torque and groove applications.
Spiral Gaskets (Inner Ring)
Used to prevent buckling and improve stability, this type of spiral wound gasket is suitable for raised face flanges.
Spiral Gaskets (Outer Ring)
Help with centering and act as a guide for installation.
Gaskets with both the inner and outer ring
Most commonly used in critical applications, these gaskets are also fully compliant with ASME standards and can be used in heat exchangers.
Wound Gasket Materials
There is a choice of spiral wound gasket material that you can opt for depending on your application’s requirements. However, the most common and industry standard is 316 stainless steel for the inner ring, a graphite filler winding, and a carbon steel outer ring.
All gaskets that are spiral wound should be manufactured to ASME B16.20 standards, and include the manufacturer’s name, winding and filler material, diameter, and pressure class.
Other material choices for spiral wound gaskets include:
Metal Windings
- Carbon steel
- Stainless steel (304 and 316)
- Exotic alloys (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy)
Filler Materials
- PTFE
- Ceramic
- Graphite
- Mica (for extreme temperatures)
Metal Windings
- Carbon steel
- Stainless steel (304 and 316)
- Exotic alloys (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy)
Filler Materials
- PTFE
- Ceramic
- Graphite
- Mica (for extreme temperatures)
Material Selection Considerations
It’s important to choose the right spiral gasket for the intended application, taking into consideration:
- Temperature and pressure
- Chemical compatibility
- Corrosion resistance
- Flange surface finish
- Flange type and dimensions
- Bolt load availability
- Application criticality
- Vibration and thermal cycling
These elements are vital, as the right gasket material selection ensures safety, efficiency, and supports minimising operational costs.
All materials must adhere to industry standards, SME B16.20, and EN Standards, EN 1514-2, which specifies gasket type, material type, and testing requirements of spiral wound gaskets.
Spiral Wound Metal Gaskets for High-Performance Applications
Spiral wound metal gaskets are essential in critical applications such as pumps, pipes, valves, and heat exchangers.
A spiral wound gaskets makeup combined with the numerous benefits they offer, means you will find spiral wound metal gaskets used within extreme environments such as:
- Offshore drilling
- Subsea systems
- Refineries
Spiral Wound Gasket Manufacturers & Suppliers in Aberdeen
It is essential when looking for the best and most suitable sealing solution that you choose a reliable supplier.
A reputable supplier who can guarantee high-quality seals and gaskets, and also whose expertise and experience in your sector you can tap into to support you and answer your questions.
What to look for in good spiral wound gasket suppliers:
- What certifications do they hold (API, ASME, ISO)? Can they provide you with evidence of these?
- What quality control and traceability processes and systems do they have in place? Does this meet industry standards?
- What is their current stock availability and lead times? Does this fit with your lead times?
As leading spiral wound gasket manufacturers in Aberdeen, we are trusted for our high-quality goods and exceptional customer service.
We use our years of experience in the industry to provide robust and reliable sealing solutions that provide you with peace of mind as well as cost efficiencies.
With fast delivery across the North Sea region, contact us now to see how we can help you.
Applications of Spiral Wound Gaskets in Aberdeen
With the outer ring of the spiral gasket providing structural stability and inner windings protecting from erosion and corrosion, spiral wound gaskets can withstand the most extreme conditions and recover from dynamic movements in the joint with ease.
This makes this type of gasket suitable for:
- Oil & gas platforms (North Sea)
- Petrochemical plants
- Power generation facilities
- Marine and subsea pipelines
Why Choose Our Spiral Wound Gaskets in Aberdeen
Providing you with our local expertise in oil and gas sealing solutions, you can have complete peace of mind that our gaskets are of the highest quality and meet all compliance requirements and industry standards.
We only use high-quality materials, and our experience in precision manufacturing means you receive a sealing solution that you can trust.
Available in standard or custom sizes and bespoke configurations, we work with you to ensure the most appropriate sealing solution for the intended application.
Offering a rapid turnaround and emergency supply, speak to a member of our team today to see how we can help you.
Looking for Custom Spiral Wound Gasket Solutions?
With:
- Tailored designs for specific flange types
- Bespoke material combinations
- Engineering support and consultation
Look no further than Specialist Sealing Solutions.
FAQs About Spiral Wound Gaskets
What are spiral wound gaskets used for?
Spiral wound gaskets are used to prevent leaks in critical applications, often found in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and industrial power industries. They can be used in pumps, pipes, valves, and heat exchangers.
What is the difference between spiral wound and ring-type gaskets?
Ring-type gaskets are solid metal gaskets, whereas spiral wound gaskets are made up of metal strips and soft filler windings, providing more flexibility due to improved recovery under compression.
Which materials are best for spiral wound gaskets?
The standard is 316 stainless steel inner ring, with a graphite filler winding, and a carbon steel outer ring.
Can spiral wound gaskets be reused?
No, once the spiral gasket has been compressed, the gasket will be permanently deformed and therefore, unable to be used again without leaks occurring.
What standards apply to ring-type joints?
Industry standards include ASME B16.20 and EN Standards, EN1514-2.
Contact Us for Spiral Wound Gaskets in Aberdeen
Speak to a gasket specialist today and request a quote.
Call 01535 274 776
Fast delivery in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas.
