Need for Gasket Sealants ?
A gasket sealant is a material applied to the surface of a gasket or directly onto the joint to enhance the seal between two mating surfaces. It ensures a leak-proof connection by filling imperfections, preventing fluid or gas leaks, and increasing durability. Gasket sealants are commonly used in automotive, industrial, and plumbing applications.
Why do Solid Gaskets leak?
- Best machined flanges will be have surface irregularities that solid gasket cannot seal. For cast ,stamped , sheet metal flanges the problem gets aggravated.
- Compression set – Solid gasket relaxes with time
- Due to internal pressure and vibrations the gasket tends to bow out
- finding accurate sized gasket during maintenance replacement is difficult
Solution: Replace Solid gasket with Liquid Gasket sealants
Supex gasket sealants, replaces solid gaskets. These liquid sealants are called ‘ Formed in place’ Gaskets, FIPG.
Features and Benefits
- 100% leak proof flange joints till the life of the assembly
- Costly machining of flanges not required. Can be applied on cast, stamped, sheet metal flanges.
- Can be applied by manual gun, pneumatic gun or automatic dispensing system – easy application
- No downtime since any shape gasket can be made insitu.
Types of Gasket Sealants
Silicone-Based Sealants (RTV – Room Temperature Vulcanizing):
- Highly flexible, heat-resistant, and waterproof.
- Used for automotive engines, valve covers, and water pumps.
- Example: Supex 280 Silicone RTV
Anaerobic Sealants:
- Designed for metal-to-metal joints with minimal gaps.
- Cures in the absence of air, forming a strong, durable seal.
- Example: Supex 574
Non-Hardening Sealants:
- Remain soft and pliable to handle vibration and thermal expansion.
- Ideal for gaskets that may need frequent removal or adjustment.
Hardening Sealants:
- Cure to a rigid state for permanent seals.
- Often used in applications where the joint will not need to be reopened.
Copper-Based Sealants:
- Contain metallic particles for improved heat resistance and conductivity.
- Commonly used in high-temperature applications, such as exhaust systems.
Liquid Gasket Sealants:
- Applied directly to replace traditional gaskets.
- Fill surface imperfections for a custom seal.
Industries and Applications
Liquid gasketing is becoming very popular with Automotive 
industry. All the automotive manufacturers , viz: Passenger cars, 2 wheelers, Commercial vehicles, Tractors, Agricultural machines, Railway Engines, Gensets use Liquid gaskets for all critical flange joints.
- Oil pan sump gasket sealing
- Head gasket dressing with high temperature sealant
- camshaft cover sealing
- transmission cover sealing
- exhaust manifold gasket sealer
- differnetial gasket sealer
- thermostat gasket sealer
- water pump gasket sealer
- fuel pump gasket sealer
- valve cover gasket maker
Process plants like Power, Steel, Paper, Waste water treatment, Mining industry, textiles use ‘Liquid gasketing’ for flange sealing of various equipment like Gear Box , Oil pan, Cam shaft cover, transmission buckle up etc.
How to use RTV gasket sealants
Cleaning:
- Clean the area to be sealed such that it is free from dust, loose particles
- ensure that cleaning is done using acetone or MEK. Do not use kerosene, diesel or petrol to clean the flanges. It leaves residue that react with the sealants and create leak path.
- Use firm and dry cotton cloth and not jute or loose fabric which will remain on the flange surface.
Application:
- cut the tip of the silicone cartridge or puncture the silicone sealant tube.
- Apply a uniform bead of the sealant from the tube
- assemble the flanges within the skin formation time of rtv sealant , ie: within 10- 15 minutes for regular grade of rtv gasket sealants.
- Preferably use anaerobic theadlocker to lock the bolts after assembling.
For industrial shop floor high speed production lines we can set up fully automatic or semi automatic dispensing systems.
Supex 280, High Temperature RTV Gasket sealant
RTV Silicone sealant seals Cast iron , sheet metal flanges.
- Can fill gap between flanges upto 2 mm
- Automotive fluids, oil, water resistant
- can withstand internal pressure upto 10 bars
- withstand temperature upto 300 C
- Flexible , can withstand loads, jerks, vibrations
- Easy to apply manually or dispensed automatically for line production
What are gasket sealants?
It is a Sealant in semi paste or liquid form applied on flanges to seal them permanently. They seal the gaps , surface imperfections completely. It seals and bonds to make a single structural unit instead of two flanges joined by a third material.
Can I use silicone instead of gasket?
definitely Yes. Silicone sealant is a popular replacement for solid gaskets. Typically used for cast, stamped and sheet metal flanges where the gap is more than 1 mm. Silicone sealant gaskets can sustain up to 250C and presuure up to 10 Bars.
How long does liquid gaskets take to dry?
Typically, RTV Silicone sealants require a minimum of two hours to set up and 24-hours to achieve the full cure that’s needed before adding fluids or returning the vehicle to service. Anaerobic flange sealants and gasket makers need about an hour to cure.
Do I need sealant on a rubber gasket?
Rubber gasket can be coated on both sides with liquid sealant for a long-lasting, leak-free seal.
At some places rubber gasket is also used as a shim or spacer , for such situations you can apply sealant on both the faces of the flanges or gasket. This will ensure no leakage from the joints till it is reopened for maintenance purposes.
3 thoughts on “Gasket Sealants ensures leak free joints”
Thanks for providing this blog related to liquid-gasket-sealant. You have explained each & everything like how to use and involved in which applications.
thank you for the blog
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