Sealing packing

The idea behind solid material is to use metals which cannot be punched out of sheets but are still cheap to produce. These cut gasket generally have a much higher level of quality control than graphite sheet and generally can withstand much higher temperatures and pressures. The key downside is that a solid metal must be greatly compressed in order to become flush with the flange head and prevent leakage. The material choice is more difficult; because metals are primarily used, process contamination and oxidation are risks. An additional downside is that the metal used must be softer than the flange – in order to ensure that the flange does not warp and thereby prevent sealing with future cut gasket. Even so, these gaskets have found a place in industry, although not a large one.