The History of the Gasket

The humble gasket is a small but vital component in mechanical systems, keeping engines humming and production lines running.

Without rubber gaskets and seals, many industries couldn’t function with the same levels of efficiency.

History of gaskets

The concept of gaskets to create tight seals can be traced back to ancient civilisations such as the Greeks in 800 BC, the Romans in 753 BC and the Egyptians as long ago as 2500 BC.

According to historians, experts of the era created their own versions of gaskets thousands of years ago during the construction of historic feats of engineering, such as the Ancient Romans’ aqueduct systems, which provided clean water from springs and rivers for drinking and bathing. They were able to carry water to various destinations, including public baths, through a series of many pipes, sometimes covering a distance of up to 60 miles. Without some way of stopping leaks, this wouldn’t have been possible.

However, in the days before rubber gaskets, early societies had to use natural materials such as plant fibres, animal skins and clay to create basic seals for early plumbing systems. The evolution of modern gaskets as we know them didn’t occur until the 19th century.

How did the gasket change over time?

Some of the first recognised gaskets dated from 1820, when they were manufactured from sulphur powder, pack iron filings and water to create a solid iron sulphate seal.

Another early material was an oakum gasket, made from pieces of twisted jute rope fibres often mixed with tar, packed tightly together to seal joints and gaps including irregular joints in plumbing, construction and marine applications. It was commonly used in shipbuilding to seal seams between planks on the ship’s hull.

Engineers and craftsmen began to experiment with new materials between the 1820s and early 1840s, including leather and parchment to manufacture gaskets for industrial machinery. Other sealing compounds were created from animal fat and beeswax.

However, the development and increasing use of water-powered mills and other mechanical equipment during the Industrial Revolution had created a need for more reliable sealing solutions. This led to further innovations in the design and production of gaskets.

Who invented the gasket?

The general consensus is that the modern rubber gasket was the brainchild of Charles Goodyear, the legendary American chemist and manufacturing engineer who developed vulcanised rubber.

Goodyear was 39 years old and working at the Eagle India Rubber Company in Woburn, Massachusetts, when he discovered that mixing rubber and sulphur over a hot stove caused the rubber to become rigid. He called the process vulcanisation and received a US Patent No 1090 for his discovery on 24th February 1839. His invention revolutionised many industries, including the production of tyres and footwear. The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company opened in 1898 in Akron, Ohio, and was named after him, 38 years after his death.

The process of vulcanisation enabled Goodyear to create the first heat-resistant rubber gaskets in 1844, which resulted in a material with higher tensile strength, superior elasticity and improved abrasion resistance, making it flexible over a larger range of temperatures.

Leather gaskets were used in applications such as water pumps during the 19th century, but they weren’t suitable for high-temperature use, as they could deteriorate and tear. Asbestos fibre gaskets were launched in 1899 by Richard Klinger, an engineer in Vienna. They were used for various mechanical uses and for locomotives.

The UK’s first major gasket supplier, Whitby Chandler Ltd, was founded in 1923 in Sheffield, using specialist machinery for gasket cutting.

Development of Synthetic Rubber

The early 20th century saw the advent of synthetic rubbers, offering alternatives to natural rubber. Notably, neoprene, developed in 1931 by US chemical company DuPont, exhibited high resistance to chemicals and heat, making it suitable for various industrial applications, including gaskets.

Neoprene was the brainchild of Du Pont’s research director, Elmer Bolton, after being inspired by the work of chemistry professor Julius Arthur Nieuwland, of Indiana’s University of Notre Dame. Nieuwland studied acetylene chemistry, eventually producing the elastic compound divinyl acetylene.

Bolton bought the patent rights from the university and collaborated with Nieuwland to commercially develop the product. Initially marketing the new compound as DuPrene in 1931, DuPont renamed it neoprene in 1937.

Impact of World War II on Gasket Materials

During World War II, the scarcity of natural rubber significantly impacted the production of essential components, such as gaskets, for military and industrial machinery. The capture of Singapore by Japan on 8th December 1941, immediately cut off 90% of the Allies’ natural rubber supplies and highlighted the critical dependence on this material. To meet wartime demands, the production of synthetic rubbers surged, becoming indispensable in replacing natural rubber in various applications.

Both natural and synthetic rubbers played crucial roles in the war effort. For instance, synthetic rubber became essential in manufacturing gaskets, which were vital for maintaining machinery functionality amidst wartime shortages. The widespread adoption of synthetic rubbers not only ensured the continuity of production but also contributed significantly to the Allied war strategy, supporting everything from military vehicles to aircraft and battleships. The development and mass production of synthetic rubber emerged as a pivotal industrial response, reflecting the urgent need to innovate and adapt in the face of wartime challenges.

Asbestos was also a common gasket material as well as rubber during this period, and throughout much of the 20th century, but in the 1980s, health concerns surrounding its use led to a decline in asbestos gasket manufacturing.

Today, rubber remains the preferred material for gaskets, as it’s suitable for a wide range of applications due to its great adaptability.

What are gaskets used for today?

Rubber gaskets are incredibly important today across multiple industries and are commonly used in the automotive, aerospace and water processing sectors. The global value of the automotive gasket market alone is estimated to be £9.53 billion.

In the aerospace sector, rubber is crucial for applications including gaskets, seals, tyres and shock absorbing. Currently valued at £1.42 billion, the worldwide aerospace seals market is projected to increase to £2.52 billion by 2030, driven by industry growth, technological advancements and improved safety regulations. It also requires many different types of rubber to withstand the harsh environments experienced by aircraft and spacecraft including Silicone, Nitrile, Neoprene and EPDM.

Rubber is particularly important to the water and waste water processing industry, where high-quality products are required to ensure the purity of drinking and bathing water. Coruba offers a rubber sheeting material that is WRAS and KTW-approved, to supply gaskets, seals and moulds for potable water up to a temperature of 23°C.

Why choose Coruba?

As a member of the British Rubber & Polyurethane Products Association, we are a trusted supplier of standard and bespoke products, including high quality rubber gaskets.

Please contact us to discuss your custom requirements and we will be happy to talk you through the most suitable options.