Exploring Material Options for Gaskets in Beverage and Brewery Production
1st Apr 2024
Brewery, wine and beverage production continues to flourish and flow in our world. Tanks, valves and fittings in these processes are continually put to the test and depend on reliable and precision sealing. Choosing the right gasket material can significantly impact performance and product quality. A range of materials are available, including EPDM, Buna, Viton®, Silicon, and Teflon®, and each present distinct advantages and potential drawbacks depending on application. In the following sections, we'll explore typical uses and then offer a comprehensive assessment of material options.
Common Applications:
Tri-clamp fittings and gaskets are are one of the more prominent systems in brewery and beverage production and play a crucial role in ensuring leak-free sealing in various equipment, from fermenters to piping systems. Manway gaskets are also crucial for maintaining tight seals on fermenters, mash turns, and other tanks and vessels. Valve seats in brewery production create seals inside butterfly valve bodies to prevent leakage and control the flow of liquids. Additionally, many other rubber components, including filter gaskets, pump seals, sight glass gaskets, and O-rings, all play integral parts in ensuring the integrity of the brewing process and the final product.
Common Materials:
With numerous requirements and an extensive array of material options at hand, choosing the appropriate gasket material can be an important decision for brewers and beverage producers. The following information aims to assist in evaluating the properties and uses of several of the more prevalent gasket materials including EPDM, Buna, Viton, Silicon, and Teflon.
EPDM
Characteristics: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a synthetic rubber known for its excellent resistance to heat, water, steam, and weathering. It also exhibits good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and ketones but may degrade over time with exposure to strong chemicals or high temperatures above 300°F. Commercial EPDM compounds typically offer a temperature range of -40°F to 300°F.
Applications: EPDM is commonly used for gaskets in equipment such as fermenters, piping systems, and kegs, where exposure to hot water and steam is frequent but exposure to strong chemicals or extreme temperatures is limited. In breweries and beverage production, they can also be suitable for handling solvents and mild acids, making them ideal for various equipment and piping systems. They are a popular compound for triclamp gaskets, manway gaskets, valve seats and more.
Silicone
Characteristics: Silicone rubber offers exceptional flexibility and high-temperature resistance. It is resistant to ozone, UV radiation, aging, and possesses physiologically neutral and insulating properties. Silicone offers brewery compatibility with some chemicals, but may swell or degrade with prolonged exposure to certain cleaning agents or sanitizers . Commercial Silicone compounds typically offer a temperature range of -75°F to 400°F.
Applications: Silicone gaskets find extensive use in numerous industries due to their high purity, flexibility, and temperature resistance. They are frequently employed in tri-clamp gaskets, manway gaskets, and various other seals. Silicone is also commonly specified as valve seats in butterfly valves. Their flexibility facilitates installation and removal during cleaning and maintenance procedures, while their ability to withstand high temperatures ensures longevity in demanding environments.
Buna
Characteristics: Buna (Nitrile) offers good resistance to oils, fuels, and hydrocarbons, but is not recommended for prolonged exposure to sunlight, UV light, ozone, or harsh chemicals like acids and ketones, which can cause deterioration. It offers good tensile strength and abrasion resistance. Commercial Buna compounds typically offer a temperature range of -40°F to 250°F.
Applications: Buna gaskets are widely utilized for their affordability and mechanical properties in breweries and beverage production facilities. They are commonly used in general-purpose applications where chemical resistance is not the primary concern. Buna gaskets find extensive use in production equipment, particularly in pump seals, valves, and hose connections, where resistance to oils and hydrocarbons is critical.
Viton®
Characteristics: Viton (FKM, Fluoroelastomer) is a synthetic rubber known for its excellent resistance to numerous chemicals, acids, fuels, oils, and solvents and it's ability to withstand high temperatures. Certain formulations may not be compatible with aggressive cleaning agents or sanitizers used in brewery production. Commercial Viton compounds typically offer a temperature range of -15°F to 400°F.
Applications: Viton gaskets are ideal for sealing applications in breweries and beverage production requiring resistance to chemicals and high temperatures, such as tank fittings, flanges, and pumps. However, it's essential to verify compatibility with specific cleaning agents to ensure optimal performance. With various material types available, Viton gaskets offer tailored solutions to meet specific industry requirements, ensuring reliable performance even in demanding environments.
Teflon®
Characteristics: Teflon (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a synthetic fluoro-polymer renowned for its exceptional chemical resistance, low friction, and high-temperature resilience. With remarkable chemical compatibility and temperature resistance, PTFE is well-suited for various brewery and beverage applications. However, due to its characteristics, such as low compressibility, careful installation and seating are imperative to prevent potential leakage. Hardness usually ranges 55-65 durometer Shore D. Commercial PTFE compounds typically offer a broad temperature range of -350°F to 500°F.
Applications: Teflon gaskets are preferred in beverage and brewery settings where aggressive chemicals, elevated temperatures, or non-stick surfaces are essential. Adherence to FDA standards can ensure suitability for food and beverage processing. Common applications include sealing heat exchangers, reactors, and other process equipment where stringent sealing performance is crucial. Effective installation and seating are vital to ensure optimal performance in these demanding environments.
Common Applications:
Tri-clamp fittings and gaskets are are one of the more prominent systems in brewery and beverage production and play a crucial role in ensuring leak-free sealing in various equipment, from fermenters to piping systems. Manway gaskets are also crucial for maintaining tight seals on fermenters, mash turns, and other tanks and vessels. Valve seats in brewery production create seals inside butterfly valve bodies to prevent leakage and control the flow of liquids. Additionally, many other rubber components, including filter gaskets, pump seals, sight glass gaskets, and O-rings, all play integral parts in ensuring the integrity of the brewing process and the final product.
Common Materials:
With numerous requirements and an extensive array of material options at hand, choosing the appropriate gasket material can be an important decision for brewers and beverage producers. The following information aims to assist in evaluating the properties and uses of several of the more prevalent gasket materials including EPDM, Buna, Viton, Silicon, and Teflon.
EPDM
Characteristics: EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a synthetic rubber known for its excellent resistance to heat, water, steam, and weathering. It also exhibits good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and ketones but may degrade over time with exposure to strong chemicals or high temperatures above 300°F. Commercial EPDM compounds typically offer a temperature range of -40°F to 300°F.
Applications: EPDM is commonly used for gaskets in equipment such as fermenters, piping systems, and kegs, where exposure to hot water and steam is frequent but exposure to strong chemicals or extreme temperatures is limited. In breweries and beverage production, they can also be suitable for handling solvents and mild acids, making them ideal for various equipment and piping systems. They are a popular compound for triclamp gaskets, manway gaskets, valve seats and more.
Silicone
Characteristics: Silicone rubber offers exceptional flexibility and high-temperature resistance. It is resistant to ozone, UV radiation, aging, and possesses physiologically neutral and insulating properties. Silicone offers brewery compatibility with some chemicals, but may swell or degrade with prolonged exposure to certain cleaning agents or sanitizers . Commercial Silicone compounds typically offer a temperature range of -75°F to 400°F.
Applications: Silicone gaskets find extensive use in numerous industries due to their high purity, flexibility, and temperature resistance. They are frequently employed in tri-clamp gaskets, manway gaskets, and various other seals. Silicone is also commonly specified as valve seats in butterfly valves. Their flexibility facilitates installation and removal during cleaning and maintenance procedures, while their ability to withstand high temperatures ensures longevity in demanding environments.
Buna
Characteristics: Buna (Nitrile) offers good resistance to oils, fuels, and hydrocarbons, but is not recommended for prolonged exposure to sunlight, UV light, ozone, or harsh chemicals like acids and ketones, which can cause deterioration. It offers good tensile strength and abrasion resistance. Commercial Buna compounds typically offer a temperature range of -40°F to 250°F.
Applications: Buna gaskets are widely utilized for their affordability and mechanical properties in breweries and beverage production facilities. They are commonly used in general-purpose applications where chemical resistance is not the primary concern. Buna gaskets find extensive use in production equipment, particularly in pump seals, valves, and hose connections, where resistance to oils and hydrocarbons is critical.
Viton®
Characteristics: Viton (FKM, Fluoroelastomer) is a synthetic rubber known for its excellent resistance to numerous chemicals, acids, fuels, oils, and solvents and it's ability to withstand high temperatures. Certain formulations may not be compatible with aggressive cleaning agents or sanitizers used in brewery production. Commercial Viton compounds typically offer a temperature range of -15°F to 400°F.
Applications: Viton gaskets are ideal for sealing applications in breweries and beverage production requiring resistance to chemicals and high temperatures, such as tank fittings, flanges, and pumps. However, it's essential to verify compatibility with specific cleaning agents to ensure optimal performance. With various material types available, Viton gaskets offer tailored solutions to meet specific industry requirements, ensuring reliable performance even in demanding environments.
Teflon®
Characteristics: Teflon (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a synthetic fluoro-polymer renowned for its exceptional chemical resistance, low friction, and high-temperature resilience. With remarkable chemical compatibility and temperature resistance, PTFE is well-suited for various brewery and beverage applications. However, due to its characteristics, such as low compressibility, careful installation and seating are imperative to prevent potential leakage. Hardness usually ranges 55-65 durometer Shore D. Commercial PTFE compounds typically offer a broad temperature range of -350°F to 500°F.
Applications: Teflon gaskets are preferred in beverage and brewery settings where aggressive chemicals, elevated temperatures, or non-stick surfaces are essential. Adherence to FDA standards can ensure suitability for food and beverage processing. Common applications include sealing heat exchangers, reactors, and other process equipment where stringent sealing performance is crucial. Effective installation and seating are vital to ensure optimal performance in these demanding environments.
Custom compounds, colors and specialty gasket styles are also available to meet specific demands in brewery and beverage applications. For example, envelope-style gaskets provide enhanced protection by enclosing the sealing material within a durable outer layer, increasing resistance to tearing and abrasion. Furthermore, metal detectable gaskets contain metal additives designed for detection in food processing environments, minimizing the risk of contamination and ensuring product safety. These additional options expand the range of choices for producers seeking tailored solutions to their sealing requirements.
Choosing the right gasket material is crucial to maintain efficiency and reliability across various stages of brewery and beverage production. Understanding the benefits and limitations of various materials allows brewers to choose the most suitable option for their applications.
For more information and to order beverage and brewery gasket and fittings online, visit BreweryGaskets.com.
Choosing the right gasket material is crucial to maintain efficiency and reliability across various stages of brewery and beverage production. Understanding the benefits and limitations of various materials allows brewers to choose the most suitable option for their applications.
For more information and to order beverage and brewery gasket and fittings online, visit BreweryGaskets.com.
Please note: The information presented here is a general guide and represents typical values that can vary with grade, application, and environment. It is intended for reference purposes only. No representations, guarantees, or warranties of any kind are made regarding its accuracy or suitability for any particular purpose. Users are advised to conduct their own evaluations for their intended application.
Viton® is a registered trademark of The Chemours Company
Teflon® is a registered trademark of the Chemours Company
Viton® is a registered trademark of The Chemours Company
Teflon® is a registered trademark of the Chemours Company
