What are spiral wound gaskets and what industries are they mainly used for?

Spiral wound gaskets are a widely used component for sealing pipes and equipment. Their unique design allows them to perform well in a variety of industrial environments. This gasket is made of alternating metal strips and non-metallic materials, usually in a spiral shape, and may be equipped with an annular support on the outside. This structural design not only provides good sealing performance, but also can withstand high temperature and high pressure environments.

Structure and materials of spiral wound gaskets
The core of spiral wound gaskets is composed of one or more layers of metal strips, which are usually stainless steel, nickel or other corrosion-resistant materials. These metal strips are sandwiched with filler materials such as asbestos, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or other high temperature and chemical resistant materials. The presence of filler materials enables the gasket to achieve a better sealing effect during installation and fill minor surface unevenness.

There are various types of spiral wound gaskets, mainly the following:

W type: only the rolled part, without inner and outer rings.

RW type: spiral wound gasket with outer ring.

RWI type: spiral wound gasket with inner and outer rings.
WI type: spiral coil gasket with inner ring only.
RH type: ribbed spiral coil gasket suitable for heat exchangers.
RS type: spiral coil gasket with special shape.
Main application areas of spiral coil gaskets
Spiral coil gaskets are widely used in many industries due to their excellent sealing performance and high temperature and high pressure resistance, including:

Oil and gas: In the process of oil and gas extraction, transportation and refining, spiral coil gaskets are used to seal pipes and valves to prevent leakage and improve safety.

Chemical industry: In chemical reactors, storage tanks and pipelines, spiral coil gaskets can effectively resist various corrosive chemicals to ensure the safe operation of equipment.

Power industry: In the boilers and cooling systems of power plants, spiral coil gaskets are used to maintain efficient heat exchange and system sealing.

Shipbuilding and marine engineering: In the fuel system and cooling system of ships, spiral coil gaskets can withstand the corrosion and high pressure environment of seawater to ensure the stability of the system.

Food and Pharmaceutical Industry: Due to the hygienic and corrosion-resistant properties of spiral coil gaskets, they are also widely used in food processing and pharmaceutical equipment to meet strict hygiene standards.

Building and HVAC systems: In the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems of buildings, spiral coil gaskets are used for pipe connections to ensure the airtightness and watertightness of the system.

Advantages of spiral coil gaskets
The advantages of using spiral coil gaskets include:

Excellent sealing performance: Its structural design can effectively fill the tiny gaps on the connection surface to prevent leakage.
High temperature and pressure resistance: It can work under extreme conditions and is suitable for high temperature and high pressure application environments.
Strong flexibility: It can be customized according to different industrial needs to meet various sealing requirements.
Corrosion resistance: Choosing the right material can resist the erosion of various chemicals.