Goods and Services

Foam Rubber Gaskets

Small but strong is the perfect way to describe gaskets, as they’re overlooked in nearly all of their applications, while being one of the reasons so many mechanisms can function efficiently. Made in all sizes, shapes, and materials, a gasket is a pad that gets compressed between two interlocking objects, helping create a seal otherwise impossible due to surface imperfections in the two meeting objects. Examples include O-rings in hose nozzles and head gaskets in automobiles.

Because of the number of potential applications, gaskets are made out of various materials, from the traditional rubber rings most people think of, to custom-cut foam pads that can compress and seal. The biggest benefit of using a rubber neoprene gasket is how cost-effective foam materials are over traditional materials like rubber, metals and silicone.

Neoprene is particularly valuable for gasketing because it is structurally resistant to many compounds that damage or cause breakdown in similar materials. While remaining soft and pliable enough to compress, it maintains resistance to Ozone, sunlight, oxidation, many chemicals and petroleum derivatives, and breakdown by water and air. This versatility makes it great in low-pressure applications where frequent replacement is difficult. Another benefit of foam gaskets is the shaping customization the material offers. With today’s cutting technologies, nearly any shape or size gasket can be produced quickly and accurately. All that you need to do is to buy foam rubber, contact a stamping shop, and pick up your parts. Foam also minimizes material waste because scraps and leftovers are always able to be repurposed into another product, even if only shredded into scraps. Whether you’re looking at a large-scale project or a small run, consider foam for your next gasket application.