A spiral wound gasket (SWG) is a semi-metallic, high-resilience sealing component engineered for high-pressure, high-temperature industrial environments. It consists of a V-shaped metal strip (usually SS316) alternating with filler materials (graphite, PTFE) wound in a spiral, commonly used in oil, gas, and power industries to seal flanges, pumps, and valves.
Key Components & Construction
Sealing Element: V-shaped metal strip combined with a filler material (graphite, PTFE, Mica) to create the seal.
Outer Ring (Centering Ring): Positions the gasket on the flange and acts as a compression limiter (usually carbon steel).
Inner Ring: Prevents buckling, reduces flange erosion, and prevents inward expansion of the winding.
Key Advantages
Spiral wound gaskets are known for their high resilience, low leakage (excellent recovery), and ability to withstand significant thermal cycling and pressure fluctuations. They are designed to withstand high stress but must be installed properly following bolt torque guidelines to avoid "birds nesting" or over-compression.