PLAIN FLAT METAL GASKET

Flat metal gaskets are best suited for applications such as valve bonnets, ammonia fittings, heat exchangers, hydraulic presses, tongue-and-groove joints. They can be used when compressibility is not required to compensate for flange surface finish, warpage or misalignment and where sufficient clamping force is available to seat the particular metal selected. They must be sealed by the flow of the gasket metal into the imperfections on the gasket seating surfaces of the flange. This requires heavy compressive forces. The hardness of gasket metal must be less than the hardness of the flanges to prevent damage to the gasket seating surface of the flange.