O Rings

O-Rings and O-Ring cord

O-rings are one of the simplest and effective seals ever invented.

An o-ring is a loop of elastomer, with an o-shaped cross-section.

O-rings are commonly made from viton, silicone, nitrile, and neoprene; and are available in metric and standard sizes. O-rings are specified by the inside diameter and the cross section diameter (thickness). The UK standards sizes are known as BS Sizes, and range from BS001 to BS932.

O-rings are the most commonly used machine seals, and are also used for pump shafts and hydraulic cylinders.

For more information about O-Rings.

Gasket Paper

Gasket Paper, Oil paper jointing, or Cellulose paper

We are a distributor of gasket paper.

Our paper is a cellulose fibre base impregnated with a plasticized chemical treatment: to resist oil, petrol air, water, alcohol, grease and most solvents.

Oil paper jointing is used for engines, axles, pumps, pipes, and tank flange joints. As such it finds application in the automotive, marine, aero and agricultural industries.

Our paper comes in metre wide rolls, and is available in the following thicknesses (mm): 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.40, 0.50, 0.80, 1.00, 1.20, 1.60, 2.00, 2.40, 3.00, and 4.80.

For more information about Gasket Paper.

News from RAM Gaskets

RAM Gasket Solutions Commits to SC21

RAM Gasket Solutions is proud to be a member of CADI (Cornwall Aerospace Defence Initiative), a cluster group of aerospace supply chain companies in Cornwall. Under the auspices of CADI, and as part of its commitment to continuous improvement and aerospace quality standards, RAM has become a signatory to the SBAC SC21 scheme (Supply Chain for the 21st Century). To sustain its commitment to producing aerospace quality gaskets and seals RAM has undergone an assessment by representatives from BAE Systems, SWMAS (South West Manufacturing Advisory Service), and WEAF (West of England Aerospace Forum). The SC21 programme aims to streamline the supply chains that make up the defence and aerospace industries, in order to make them more efficient and competitive.

For more news please visit our website: Gasket News

Graphite & Mica Gaskets

Graphite Gaskets, Mica Gaskets
General guide to graphite and mica

Both of these materials are quite difficult to handle by themselves. For gasket applications these materials are usually laminated with stainless steel.

Whilst both are suitable for very high temperatures their applications are different.

For more information visit our website here: Graphite Gaskets, or here: Mica Gaskets

Non-Asbestos Gaskets

Non-Asbestos Gaskets
General guide to Non-asbestos

These products are generally based on:
Kevlar (aramid fibre).
Glass fibre.
Carbon fibre.

All these products have good chemical resistance.
Suppliers, manufacturers and users are still exploring the performance of these asbestos replacements in many applications and the following should be borne in mind:

Additional care must be taken in steam applications.
Can require greater flange pressure/bolt loads than the previous asbestos products.
Use a thinner material if the flanges and bolting will allow.

For more information visit our website: Non-Asbestos Gaskets

PTFE Gaskets

PTFE Gaskets
PTFE Gaskets

General guide tp PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)

Virgin PTFE
This is the pure form of PTFE.
Standard sheets are cut from a moulded block.
Moulded sheets are bought to customer order.

PTFE has excellent resistance to most mineral and organic chemicals such as acids, bases and solvents.
Can be used to about 240 centigrade (464 farenheit).

Can release dangerous fumes if heated above 260 centigrade (500F.).
Tends to flow under pressure.
Relatively poor recovery under varying loads.

For more information visit our website: PTFE Gaskets

Specialist rubber gaskets

Specialist rubber gaskets
General guide to specialist rubbers

Viton Rubber Gaskets (Fluorocarbon) Rubber - (Hexafluoropropylene Vinylidene Fluoride)
A rubber with chemical resistance properties similar to PTFE.
Exceptionally resistant to:
Petrols and oils
Chlorinated solvents
Acids and alkalis
Chemicals
Heat
Weather and ozone
Gas penetration
Not exceptionally pliable - dead feel
Mechanical properties are only average
Very expensive
Temperatures -40 C to +230 C.

Silicone Rubber Gaskets
Odourless and tasteless.
Will not support bacterial life.
Used in the food industry.
Excellent ozone and ultraviolet resistance.
Good dielectric properties (resistance to high voltage stress).
Fluorinated grade required for oil resistance.
Very expensive.
Temperatures -60 C to +250C

For more information visit our website here: Viton Gaskets or here: Silicone Gaskets

Rubber Gaskets

Rubber Gaskets

General guide to rubbers
Rubber is the most important class of materials for gasket sealing in the medium temperature range (-50 C to +120 C). This is because rubbers rapidly return to their original shape when any deforming stress or load is removed.

For more information please visit our website: Rubber Gaskets

Cork Gaskets

Cork Gaskets
General guide to cork
Sheets are formed from cork granules bonded with rubber, resins or plastics.
Easily cut for mass production.
Ideal for irregular surfaces or uneven bolt loading.
Seals well under low flange pressures.
Low cost.

For more information visit our website: Cork Gaskets

Foam Rubber Gaskets

Foam Rubber Gaskets
General guide to foam rubber
Foam (or sponge) rubbers are by their nature soft and are generally specified for simple sealing applications.

In Open Cell foams the cells or air spaces are interconnecting and will thus allow the passage of liquids or gases. These types are not generally used for gaskets or seals and therefore are not stocked by RAM.

Closed Cell foams where the cells do not interconnect are used for gasket and sealing purposes.

For more information visit our website: Foam Rubber Gaskets

Gasket Fitting Guide

Gasket fitting guide.

Notes on fitting Gaskets for extreme application.

For more information please visit our website: Gasket Fitting

Gasket Chemical Resistance

1. Acetaldehyde to Calcium Hypochlorite

Nat

Sbr

Neo

Nit

Epd

But

Hyp

Vit

Sil

Ptf

Naf

Grf

Acetaldehyde

B

X

B

X

A

A

B

X

A

A

S

A

Acetic Acid 10%

B

B

A

B

B

B

B

B

A

A

A

A

Acetic Acid 100%

B

X

B

X

B

B

B

X

B

A

S

A

Acetone

B

B

B

X

A

A

B

X

B

A

B

A

Acetylene

A

A

B

A

A

A

A

A

B

A

S

A

Alum

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

Aluminium Chloride

A

A

A

A

B

A

A

A

B

A

S

A

Ammonia Gas Cold

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

X

A

B

S

A

Amyl Acetate

B

X

A

X

X

B

X

X

X

A

B

A

Aniline

X

X

X

X

X

A

B

A

X

A

X

A

Asphalt

X

X

B

B

X

X

X

A

X

A

S

A

Aviation Fuel

X

X

B

A

X

X

X

A

X

A

S

A

Benzene

X

X

X

B

B

X

X

A

X

B

S

A

Benzyl Chloride

X

X

X

X

X

X

B

A

X

-

S

A

Borax

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

B

A

A

A

Boric acid

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

-

A

A

Butane

X

X

B

A

X

X

A

A

S

A

S

A

Butyl Acetate

X

X

X

X

X

B

X

B

X

A

B

A

Butyl Alcohol

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

B

A

S

A

Calcium Hydroxide

A

A

A

A

B

A

A

B

A

A

A

A

Calcium Hypochlorite

A

X

B

B

A

A

A

A

B

A

S

B

For more information visit our website: Gasket Chemical Resistance

Gasket Supplier

RAM is a gasket material distributor and supplier.

What follows is general guide to gasket materials: their properties and applications.

For more information please visit our website: Gasket Material Supplier

Gasket Design

Gasket Design Guide: Sealing Technology
This is the RAM page for a general guide to BASIC GASKET DESIGN

The gasket is only one component of a sealing system.
The other components are the mating surfaces, the clamping method, the internal and external environments.

For more information please visit our website: Design a Gasket

Gasket Services

AT RAM Gaskets, we manufacture: Seals, Gaskets, Pads, O-Rings, Supports, Inserts, PTFE envelopes, Packings, Mouldings, Extrusions, Shims, Sub assemblies.

RAM offers the following services: One-offs, Volume productions, Specials, Spot demand, CAD profiles, Kan-Ban, Prototyping, Supplier Reduction, Design.

For more information please visit our website: Gasket Manufacturer

RAM Gasket Solutions

UK Gasket Manufacturer and Supplier: RAM Gasket Solutions

We are a custom gasket manufacturer, making quality gaskets and seals for industry, we supply the international market with quality seals from our factory in the UK.

For more information please visit our website: Gaskets Manufacturer and Supplier