Spiral Wound Gaskets

With over 75 years of combined experience in all facets of gasket manufacturing and fabrication, as well as O-ring distribution, Buffalo Seal and Gasket is uniquely qualified to meet all your gasket, O-ring, packing, cord and Polytetrafluoroethylene welding needs. One area that Buffalo Seal and Gasket excels in is spiral wound gaskets.

Spiral wound gaskets are constructed of a thin strip of metal (such as metal wire) and a nonmetallic filler material; the metal strip (metal wire) and the nonmetallic filler material are wound together, the end result being the spiral wound gasket. In other words, the metal strip/metal wire is wound outwards in a circle; the graphite (or other) filler material is wound starting at the opposite side of the circle, and then is wound in the same direction – this results in a growing circle of alternating layers of filler material and metal strip/metal wire. The guide ring of a spiral wound gasket allows for the centering of the sealing element on the flange face, as well as delivers additional radial strength, and acts as a compression limiter. The outer metal ring of a spiral wound gasket holds the windings of the gasket in place. Advantages of spiral wound gaskets include:

  • Extremely reliable – the metal strip/metal wire allows the spiral wound gasket to hold its form (remains structurally sound); the pliable filler material results in excellent sealing properties (and is the primary seal)
  • Will not damage flange surfaces
  • Non adhesive and can be easily removed
  • Spiral wound gaskets can be used in extreme conditions – for example, to seal fluid pressures as high as 250 bar (3625.9 Psi), and up to temperatures of 1000° C (1832° F)
  • Can be used across a wide stress range

The metal wire or thin strip of metal in a spiral wound gasket is either stainless steel (such as 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel) or another carbon rich steel or metal material; impregnated graphite is generally used as the filler material in standard stock spiral wound gaskets that are available from Buffalo Seal and Gasket. Standard stock spiral wound gaskets are available for pipe sizes from 1/2 inch to 24 inches, for pressures from 150 psi (pounds per square inch) up to 1500 psi. As a value-added service, Buffalo Seal and Gasket can, utilizing our strategic partners, acquire and provide custom spiral wound gaskets based on the clients’ engineering group specifications, meeting a wide range of dimensional requirements and configurations, and utilizing a broad variety of alternative materials (such as expanded PTFE used as a filler).

With a 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility and an experienced gasket team, Buffalo Seal and Gasket can meet and exceed all your spiral wound gasket specifications. Call or email Buffalo Seal and Gasket for all of your spiral wound gasket needs!