- The versatility of round gaskets is truly remarkable. They can be found in a wide range of industries, from automotive to aerospace, from plumbing to power generation. In the automotive industry, for example, round gaskets are used to seal engine blocks, transmission cases, and exhaust systems, ensuring that fluids and gases remain where they belong. In the aerospace industry, they are used to prevent leaks in fuel tanks and hydraulic systems, which is critical for safe flight.
Obtaining adequate adhesion of fluoroelastomer compounds to metal inserts is a major consideration in fabrication of shaft seals. Adhesive systems worked out for bisphenol-cured VDF/HFP/TFE elastomers often do not perform adequately for peroxide-curable fluoroelastomers and more base-resistant polymers that contain little or no VDF. The trend toward use of more resistant fluoroelastomers in shaft seals has necessitated considerable effort on compounding and adhesive system development to get adequate bonding of the new materials. Silane-type primers are often used to coat metal inserts; these contain residual active groups such as amine functions that interact with the fluoroelastomer compound to attain good adhesion, especially for VDF/HFP/TFE elastomers. Other adhesive systems, using epoxy compounds or tie-coats, may be necessary for difficult bonding situations.3
