Storage / Shelf Life of Gasket Materials

The ability of  a gasket to make and maintain a seal depends not only on the quality of the gasket material, but also on the medium being sealed, the flange design, the amount of pressure applied to the gasket by the bolts and how the gasket is assembled into the flanges and tightened.

For product safety information, warranty and damage limitations, please refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Compressed Non-Asbestos with Elastomeric Binders: Due to the relatively small proportion of elastomeric components contained in the product which are subject to the aging process, the influence exerted on the whole product is smaller than that which would occur in a purely elastomeric compound. However, poor storage conditions can lead to the reduction in quality of compressed materials. Of major influence are increased temperature, a low humidity level and the effects of strong, direct sunlight and Ozone. Therefore, we recommend the following ideal storage conditions:

  • Storage temperature below 75 degree F

  • Humidity level between 50 – 60%

  • Protect from direct sunlight or other intensive light sources.

  • Keep away from sources of Ozone.

  • Store gaskets flat on the shelf, not hung on a hook. 

With these conditions, a shelf life of 5 years can be expected. When these conditions are not met, it is not possible to determine the absolute life limit or the reduction of useful life. However it is known that if the material is stored at a room temperature over 85 degree F for a long period, the material could possibly become aged beyond ideal use in as little as 2 years.

The ability of a gasket to make and maintain a seal depends not only on the quality of the gasket material, but also on the medium being sealed, the flange design, the amount of pressure applied to the gasket by the bolts and how the gasket is assembled into the flanges and tightened.

For product safety information, warranty and damage limitations, please refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Flexible Graphite Sheet
The shelf life of Flexible Graphite, (Graph-Tech, Polycarbon, Flexitallic, Garlock, and Klinger) is unlimited.

The ability of  a gasket to make and maintain a seal depends not only on the quality of the gasket material, but also on the medium being sealed, the flange design, the amount of pressure applied to the gasket by the bolts and how the gasket is assembled into the flanges and tightened.

For product safety information, warranty and damage limitations, please refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

PTFE Teflon Sheet and Joint Sealant
The shelf life of PTFE (Gore-Tex, Gylon, Produra, Sealex, Sigma, Soft Chem, TopChem and Virgin) is indefinite.

The ability of  a gasket to make and maintain a seal depends not only on the quality of the gasket material, but also on the medium being sealed, the flange design, the amount of pressure applied to the gasket by the bolts and how the gasket is assembled into the flanges and tightened.

For product safety information, warranty and damage limitations, please refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)