Flexible Graphite

Flexible Graphite Gaskets

Cut FULL FACE Flexible Graphite gaskets 1/8" Thick for use between 125/150# piping flanges. Flexible Graphite or Grafoil® products are ideal for sealing those difficult high temperature applications, chemical applications, and low bolt load applications. Nothing seals as well as flexible graphite or Grafoil®.

*Ring Gaskets are I.D. x O.D. Gaskets x Thickness gaskets. There are no bolt holes in this style gasket. **FULL FACE Gaskets are I.D. x O.D. x thickness gakets with bolt holes. The O.D. on a FULL FACE gasket is larger than the O.D. on a Ring gasket.

Flexible Graphite Sheet

Flexible graphite gaskets made from sheet gasket material typically 98% graphite. Leachable chloride typically less than 50 ppm. Sulfur content: 1200 ppm. Compressibility: 45% Recovery: 20%. Creep relaxation: 5%. Density: 62.4 lbs/ft. Tensile strength: 700 PSI. Temperature range (oxidizing atmosphere): -400” F to 750” F.

316 S.S. Foil Inserted  Flexible Graphite

Flexible graphite gaskets reinforced with a 316 stainless steel foil (0.002” thick) made from material typically 98% graphite. Leachable chloride typically less than 50 ppm. Sulfur content: 1200 ppm. Compressibility: 35%. Recovery: 18%. Creep relaxation: 12%. Density: 62.4 lbs/ft. Tensile strength: 5000 PSI. Temperature range (oxidizing atmosphere): -400” F to 750° F.

Quantity	FGS4-0625-59 Flexible Graphite w/ foil Gasket Material	59" x 59"	1/16"	$  207.90
Quantity	FGS4-1250-59 Flexible Graphite w/ foil Gasket Material	59" x 59"	1/8"	$  425.53

Order Other Graphite Sheet Sizes

316 S.S. Tang Inserted  Flexible Graphite

Flexible graphite gaskets with tang 316 stainless steel insert (0.005” thick) made from material typically 98% graphite. Leachable chloride typically less than 50   ppm. Sulfur content: 1200 ppm. Compressibility: 35%. Recovery: 18%. Creep relaxation: 10%. Density: 62.4 lbs/ft. Tensile strength: 5000 PSI. Temperature range (oxidizing atmosphere): -400” F to 750” F

Flexible Graphite Cut Gaskets

Developed originally by Union Carbide under the brand name "Grafoil". Common grades include GHL, GHE, GHR, GTB, GTA, GHP Flexible graphite solves industries difficult sealing applications. For help view the Grafoil Engineering Design Manual.

Call us directly or order Flexible Graphite gasket material online today!
American Seal & Packing (714) 593-9780

How do you cut graphite gaskets ?

When it comes to cutting gaskets there are several ways to get the job done. Traditional "clicker presses" are great for larger quantity jobs and have been the standard in the industry for years. The biggest down side to using clicker presses is tooling must be made to produce a gasket. Just as CNC lathes revolutionized the machining industry, laser cutters, routers and water jet are all computer controlled ways of cutting a gasket with out the need for tooling or dies.

Flexible graphite is the raw material which Graphite seal rings and gaskets are made from.It is important to know the nature of flexible graphite material to thoroughly understand the inherent nature of seals made with it.

Flexible graphite is basically a carbon-based sheet material made from graphite “flakes” mined from the ground and processed to prepare the billions of tiny flakes for mechanically bonding them into a homogeneous, monolithic roll of various thickness and lengths.

These rolls are used by fabricators, such as AS&P, to manufacture seal rings using four basic construction techniques, waterjet cutting, CNC oscillating knife cutting (flash cutting) or die cutting, to cut gaskets and die molding (or molding) to form flexible graphite "die formed rings".

Die Cutting:
Under this method of construction material is “sheeted” off the master roll in sheets for example 24” x 24” x .015” thick. Several of these sheets are bonded together to achieve a homogeneous laminate a thickness that matches the finished ring height. Special dies are used to “cookie cut” ID / OD rings from the laminate. These rings do not contain the telltale lines on the OD and sometimes ID inherent in die-molded ring.

It is important to add that at this point that because of the very nature of the raw material, regardless of which constructions is used, graphite flaking is always a possibility in an Unconstrained graphite seals.

CNC Oscillating knife:
In recent years new equipment (pictured above) has become available to us which allows us to cut a gasket for a customer without having to charge for tooling. Although it does require CAD programing, the production process is improved because we do not have to wait for a die to be manufactured. This method also called “flash cutting” is ideal for prototyping and lower volume production runs. Die cutting still has the advantage of speed. Flexible Graphite cuts extremely well with this equipment including metal inserted versions such as tanged stainless steel inserted GHE (or equal) and stainless steel inserted Foil GHR (or equal).

Waterjet gasket cutting:
Flexible Graphite can be cut into gaskets and shapes using Cad drawings by use of a waterjet. When flexible graphite is laminated with a metal core, waterjet is often the preferred method. The determining factor is often the thickness of the metal core or simply the availability of the equipment. The speed of waterjet cutting and an oscillating knife are comparable.

Who are the primary Graphite manufactures?

The graphite sheets you see from Garlock, Thermoseal, Utex, Durlon, Chesterton, Flexitallic, JM Clipper etc, are not actually made by those companies. The primary manufactures of quality flexible graphite include SGL (formerly Polycarbon), Graftech, FMI-SPA and in Europe Mercen. Private branding allows these exceptional graphite manufactures to focus on manufacturing while the names your familiar with handle the sales and distribution.

Whats the most important thing to look for?

In general, unbranded flexible graphite will be high in sulfur. Sulfur will cause pitting on your flanges, allowing leakage to develop. It's the old pay me now or pay me later, and later will cost more. Use quality graphite initial, and protect your equipment.

Die Molding or Forming:
Under this construction method, thin rolls of graphite, 3/8” for example, are sliced off the master roll. A specified length of this “Ribbon” of material is then wrapped around the mandrel, to form the part’s ID, of a compression die. The remaining die parts are assembled and the die is compressed to a predetermined distance to make the proper size part height. During this compression the material inside is crushed. During this crushing process the layers collapse and naturally form V’s and W’s until eventually it becomes compacted and appears to be a shiny solid part. This is one of the benefits of this material for making seals that it is extremely compactable and conformable and can “hold” a shape such as an ID / OD seal ring. It is not however a solid part, like a metal ring.

Die Formed rings are made up of crushed graphite ribbon and the fissures or “cracks” on the OD are inherent in their construction. They cannot be removed. We can minimize their appearance by compressing the ring more. However, increased compression increases the ring’s density and can cause performance issues by limiting radial expansion. Our history with flexible graphite has proven the “crack” on the OD of the die molded ring will NOT cause a detrimental condition any more than the presence of the seal itself

We have proven time and time again that the “crack” on the OD of the flexible graphite die molded rings cause a detrimental condition. If extrusion is the concern we can provide designs to minimize or control it with our metal clad seals.

When there is a concern of pressure causing extrusion resulting in a detrimental condition in the seal. AS&P has solutions such as a metal Clad system that encapsulates the graphite material in a thin metal casing. Allowing the compressive advantages of the graphite, but “hiding” it from the rigors of the application forces that cause extrusion.

AS&P has been distributing high temperature seals for applications for more than 30 years. Graphite Gaskets, Flange Gaskets, Valve Seals, Pump Seals, Compressor Seals, Exhaust Seals are just a few of the applications where this material is used today.

If VOC emissions control or meeting API 622 is your issue, we can help.

Call us directly or order Flexible Graphite Gasket Materials online today!
American Seal & Packing (714) 593-9780