Everyday Uses for Plastic Gaskets & Seals

Although you may not see nor directly handle plastic gaskets and seals, these components are critical to the functionality and longevity of many devices you use every day. They eliminate leakage pathways between items, making everything from temperature control to equipment operation possible.

At Preferred Plastics, we specialize in the manufacture of standard and custom plastic gaskets and seals for demanding consumer, commercial, and industrial applications. Here’s an in-depth look at how plastic gaskets work and their everyday uses.

What are plastic gaskets?

A plastic gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into joined objects under compression. Additionally, they can extend the lifespan of moving parts by protecting against rubbing or friction.

Manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes from a range of materials, plastic gaskets and seals provide significant performance advantages. Here are some examples.

Stop air, fluid, and gas loss
Sound and noise reduction
Vibration reduction
Equipment mounting support
Impact protection
Saves energy costs

After determining that a plastic gasket or seal is the appropriate device for a given application, other factors must be taken into account. They can be formed from a wide range of materials, which include:

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS
High-impact polystyrene, or HIPS
High-density polyethylene, or HDPE
Thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU
Thermoplastic elastomer, or TPE

Plastic gaskets and seals improve the functionality and performance of just about any application. Resistant to chemicals, temperature fluctuations, and increasing pressures, they are ideal for use by an array of industries. Examples include:

Automotive
Appliance
Construction
Aerospace
Plumbing
Conveying systems
Manufacturing
Industrial

Uses for Plastic Gaskets

Several devices consist of two or more joining parts. The creation of an opening between these components can hamper overall performance. Plastic gaskets and seals effectively fill the space, eliminating the loss of air, fluid, and gas.

Lightweight and versatile, plastic gaskets and seals are perfect for a variety of applications.

Automotive parts
Doors
Aerospace components
Printing and publishing equipment
Windows
Wall systems
Weatherstripping
Farm and agriculture equipment

One of the most common everyday uses for a plastic gasket is acting as a seal when joining two water pipes. You can also find gaskets used to seal boilers and fuel tanks.

Your Plastic Gasket Source

Although easy to overlook, gaskets are essential for any application that needs to eliminate the passage of air, fluid, and gas. An ineffective barrier can cause subpar performance or complete failure, which leads to downtime and customer dissatisfaction.

Find the optimum sealing solution for your application with high-performance plastic gaskets and seals from Preferred Plastics. We’re an ISO 9001:2015-certified extruder of thermoplastic resins, specializing in rigid, flexible, and co-extruded products for a wide range of markets throughout the world.

Our knowledgeable team specializes in the development of durable plastic gaskets and seals using a proven consultative approach aimed at successfully addressing functionality, longevity, safety, and compliance. We design and manufacture tailor-made plastic sealing solutions for demanding environments.