- Cut thickness of material
- Cut width of material
- Coil material
- Apply adhesives
Plastic Gaskets & Material
Plastic Gaskets & Materials
At Excelsior, we’ve been an industry leader in commercial and industrial gaskets for over 100 years. We provide a wide range of high-quality plastic gaskets for heavy-duty applications, from industrial machinery to aircraft components. Our precision thermoplastic parts offer optimal performance for industries ranging from automotive to construction.
Why Are Plastic Gaskets Important for Industrial Businesses?
Gaskets are critical in industrial processes, sealing joints and preventing leakage of air, gas, and liquids. Gaskets can also:
- Improve mounting strength
- Reduce operational noise and vibrations
- Eliminate friction between surfaces or joined parts
- Protect against impacts
- Keep dirt and contaminants out
- Enhance system efficiency and performance
Plastic seals and gaskets perform the same role, but seals are technically designed for moving parts while gaskets offer greater flexibility for shapes and sizes.
Which Industries Use Plastic Gaskets?
Virtually every industry has a use for thermoplastic gaskets and seals:
- Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical: Transfer pipes, tanks, motors, valves, and corrosive applications
- Manufacturing: Pneumatic compressors, vacuum pumps, conveyors, vent ducts, and food service equipment
- Energy: Hydroelectric, solar, and wind power generator components
- Aerospace: Fuel systems and engine components
- Plumbing: Pipe flanges
- Residential and Commercial Construction: Structural, electrical, and HVAC systems
- Healthcare: Pipe gaskets, hospital equipment, and pharmaceutical manufacturing
The type of plastic gasket required for each industry varies significantly depending on application specifications, which is why working with an experienced supplier is so important.
What Type of Plastic Does Your Application Require?
At Excelsior, we’re experts in plastics production. For industrial gaskets, we work extensively with LDPE and HDPE, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylon, Lexan (polycarbonate), Delrin, and other materials.
Whether your operations demand resistance to high temperatures, wear, salt water, corrosive acids, solvents, or hydrocarbons, we have plastic gaskets that meet your needs.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing Plastic for Gaskets?
Plastic seals and gaskets offer advantages that metal options lack:
- Excellent corrosion resistance
- Improved insulation and sealing properties
- Low weight and high strength ratio
- Significant versatility for design, fabrication, and processing
- Wide range of specs for energy absorption, density, and compression
Thanks to plastic gaskets, automotive and aircraft components deliver incredible performance while keeping weight to a minimum. Manufacturers can reduce maintenance costs and keep equipment working smoothly for ages.
How Can We Help You Find the Right Gasket?
To choose the right plastic gasket for your system, consider factors such as fluid pressure, chemical environment, surface measurements, impact resistance, and process temperatures. Our wide range of materials and sizes makes your job easier.
At Excelsior, we also offer custom gaskets, waterjet cutting, die cutting, and CNC laser services. We accommodate high-, medium-, and low-volume orders. Contact us for detailed specifications.
Common Name | Plastic | Description | Common Uses |
ABS | Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) | ABS is an impact resistant resin. It is highly rigid, exhibits good impact strength at low temperatures and is resistant to abrasion. | Computer keyboard, plastic face on wall sockets |
Acetate / cellulose acetate | Various | Generally produced in thin grade, this material has good dimensional stability. It is generally approved for food grade and medical applications. It is mallable with low heat | Eyeglass frames |
Acrylic / Plexiglass | Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) | Used primarily as a lightweight and shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is impact resistant and has a high load bearing capacity. In addition to the popular clear appearance, it also comes in colored sheets comonly used for signs and other applications. | Windows, signs |
Celcon | Acetal Copolymer | Very strong and rigid, good sliding properties and it is easily welded. In addition, Celcon is a good electical insulator (other than black color). | Plastic gears and fasteners |
Delrin | Acetal Homopolymer | Acetal provides high strength and stiffness coupled with enhanced dimensional stability. It has a low coefficient of friction and good wear properties. It also offers resistance to a wide range of chemicals, including many solvents. Acetal is ideally suited for electrical insulators which require strength and stiffness. | Rollers and gears |
Formex | Various | Primarily used as an electrical insulating material. Maintains high dielectric strength, low moinsture absorption and has a UL 94 V-0 flame rating. In addition, this material is excellent for creasing, bending and folding. | Electrical insulators and barriers |
HDPE | High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) | HDPE offers excellent impact resistance, light weight, low moisture absorption and high tensile strength. HDPE is also non-toxic and meets FDA and USDA certification for food processing. | Shampoo bottles, chemical containers |
Kapton | Polyimide (PI) | Polyimides (PI) exhibit excellent resistance to heat and chemicals as well as offering outstanding mechanical properties. UL 94 V-0 flammability rating | Gaskets around electical applications |
LDPE | Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) | LDPE is a cost effective flexible polyethylene with good low temperature impact resistance but with a low continuous operating temperature. It has high chemical resistance but can be attacked by strong oxidizing acids. It is also susceptible to stress cracking. | Containers, dispensing bottles, plastic bags |
Lexan | Polycarbonate (PC) | (PC) is hard and strong. They show good resistance to alcohols and, dilute acids. They can withstand low temperatures down to -20°C. They exhibit poor resistance to dilute alkalis, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons. | Phone cases, Machine guards |
Mylar / Polyester film | Polyester (PET) | Generally referred to as shim stock, polyester film is offered in thickness ranging from .0005" - .030". Each standard thickness has a standard color. Generall this material is strong, dimensionally stable and has excellent chemical resistance. | Shims |
Nylon / MDS | Polyamide (PAI) | Nylon offers excellent high temperature, electrical resistance and chemical resistantance. Reinforcement with MDS or glass fibers make polyamides extremely strong and wear resistant. | Bearings, fasteners, spacers |
PEEK | Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) | (PEEK) is a very high performance, high temperature thermoplastic that offers high levels of chemical and water resistance, high PV properties and is dimensionally stable. | Aerospace applications such as piston parts; demanding electical applications |
PET | Polyester (PET) | (PET) is a durable. tough thermoplastic with good chemical resistance and high energy radiation. It is also weather, wear and abrasion resistant. | 2 liter bottles |
Phenolic | Phenolic (Paper) | Phenolics are thermoset resin impregnated layers of paper, canvas, linen, or glass cloth. The base layers are dependent on the specific application. Phenolics exhibit high physical strength and very good electrical properties. | Spacers and insulating gaskets |
PP | Polypropylene (PP) | (PP) exhibits high dielectric strength, good resistance to chemicals, heat and fatigue. It offers excellent electrical and chemical resistance at higher temperatures. | Food containers, lunch boxes, packaging |
PS | Polystyrene (PS) | (PS) is a low cost thermoplastic with good electrical and mechanical properties. It is dimensionally stable and features high impact resistance and stress resistance. | CD cases, appliance housings |
PVC | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | (PVC) is flame retardant and is extremely resistance to water. In addition to offering high electrical insulation properties, it exhibits good impact and weather resistance. | Drainage pipe, roofing membranes |
Teflon | Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | (PTFE) is extremely soft and formable and it is often used for chemical resistant seals and gaskets. It features good dimensional stability, good wear resistance as well as excellent electrical insulating properties. | Slide plates, bushings |
Torlon | Polyamide-imide | Very high performance material with extreme strength. Can withstand +500F and offers unmatched strenghts at high termperatures. Glass-reinforced and carbon fiber reinforced grades also available for increased strength. | Thermal insulators, gears, bushings |
UHMWPE | Ultra High Molecular; Weight Polyethlyne | (UHMWPE) is extremely durable highly abrasion resistant polyethylene with a low coefficient of friction and superior impact resistance. | Conveyor systems, wear strips |
Ultem | Polyetherimide (PEI) | (PEI) features high temperature resistance, impact strength, creep resistance, and rigidity. It is resistant to alcohols, acids, and hydrocarbon solvents but will dissolve in partially halogenated solvents. | Medical and chemical instruments |
Get Started with Your Custom Part
Contact UsFeatured Capabilities
- Minimal set-up
- High accuracy/finish
- Ideal for prototypes
- Minimal set-up
- High accuracy/finish
- Ideal for prototypes
- Efficient in processing different materials.
- Can accommodate for long run times and large part sizes.
- Equipment also has milling capabilities.
- Rotary die-cutting
- Hydraulic presses
- Punch presses
- Manual presses
- Programmable travel head presses
- From roll or sheet stock
- Minimal set-up
- Large parts - 36" x 54"
- Low tool cost
- Cuts solid rubber and sponge rubber
- Allows for production of OD / ID parts
- Efficient and High-Speed
- Excellent alternative to molding.
- Ability to vulcanize extruded rubber.
- Ability to vulcanize sponge rubber profiles.
- Accurate to .00005"
- 27 x 27 bed
- Used for all first and last piece inspection
- Accurate to .00005"
- 27 x 27 bed
- Used for all first and last piece inspection
- Cut thickness of material
- Cut width of material
- Coil material
- Apply adhesives