Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-11-29 Origin: Site
When it comes to maintaining efficient industrial systems, plate heat exchanger spare parts play a critical role. Among them, gaskets are the unsung heroes. They seal fluid channels, prevent cross-contamination, and ensure the heat exchanger performs at peak efficiency. Choosing the wrong gasket material can lead to leaks, downtime, and even damage to other components.
With a variety of elastomers available—NBR, EPDM, and Viton—it’s essential to understand their strengths, limitations, and best-use scenarios. From HVAC chillers to chemical reactors and food-processing lines, selecting the right gasket material directly impacts the longevity, safety, and reliability of your plate heat exchanger. This guide will help you navigate the options and make informed decisions for your systems.
A gasket seals two fluid streams. It presses against the plates and blocks mixing. It holds tension through expansion, vibration, and thermal shock. When it fails, leaks start immediately. That can cause contamination, corrosion, or unexpected shutdowns. Each elastomer reacts differently under heat or chemicals, so choosing the wrong one creates early swelling, cracking, or hardening. We want none of that.
Modern PHEs work in HVAC, dairy plants, chemical refineries, and district heating networks. Each setting uses different temperatures or cleaning fluids. Gaskets face direct contact, so the material needs to match real operations—it can’t rely on guesswork.
Temperature swings stress every elastomer. Some remain flexible. Some stiffen. Others break down as oils attack softened rubber.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
NBR handles mild to medium heat.
EPDM stays stable around hot water or steam.
Viton thrives inside aggressive high-temperature conditions.
| Material | Common Temp Range (°C) | Behavior at Upper Limit |
|---|---|---|
| NBR | −15 to 130 °C | Starts hardening; oil swells the outer layer |
| EPDM | −25 to 180 °C | Remains elastic; can over-soften in oils |
| Viton | −15 to 200 °C | Very stable; small compression set |
Higher temperature means harsher cycles. A gasket compresses every time plates warm or cool. Materials like Viton recover better under repeated cycling. EPDM works great around hot water, steam, and cleaning solutions. NBR performs best at moderate temperatures.
Inside a PHE, pressure works constantly against the gasket line. When pressure increases, the gasket compresses more. Over time, certain materials lose elasticity and can’t recover properly. That’s called compression set, and it causes leaks.
NBR withstands mild stress but ages faster in hot conditions.
EPDM performs well in water-based pressure systems.
Viton handles high cycling loads without flattening.
If your system runs frequent thermal expansion cycles—like brewery pasteurization or chemical reactors—Viton or EPDM will maintain seal shape longer. NBR remains an affordable option for low-stress systems.
This is the biggest factor in gasket selection. Fluids attack materials differently. Some elastomers love oils. Some resist steam. Some break down in caustic detergents.
| Material | Best Media | Avoid These |
|---|---|---|
| NBR | Oils, fuels, lubricants | Ozone, solvents, strong cleaners |
| EPDM | Water, steam, CIP alkaline solutions | Oils, fats, petroleum fuels |
| Viton | Acids, solvents, hydrocarbons | Low-temperature shock |
Thinking practically:
Food plants use hot water, steam, and alkaline cleaners → EPDM
Oil-based fluids or fuel blends → NBR
Acidic, corrosive, or solvent-heavy chemicals → Viton
A mismatch leads to swelling, brittleness, or complete breakdown. That’s why testing matters when chemicals are unknown or mixed.
Food, beverage, biotech, and pharmaceutical applications require gaskets that do not leach, discolor, or contaminate. EPDM is widely used for food-safe systems. Silicon or Viton can also be used in special conditions:
EPDM → hot water, steam, alkaline washdowns
Silicone → excellent for sensitive environments, lower mechanical strength
Viton (FDA grades) → high temperature or strong detergents in food plants
When sanitation rules apply, material certification becomes as important as performance.
This section walks through real operating scenarios. It shows how each material behaves under heat, pressure, cleaning cycles, and chemical exposure. Once you see how these elastomers react inside actual plate heat exchanger systems, choosing the right one becomes much easier.
NBR works extremely well in environments dominated by oils, fuels, or lubricants. It stays stable when it touches diesel, animal fats, vegetable oils, or heat-transfer oils, so many factories rely on it for oil-circulating loops or petroleum-linked processes. The material compresses nicely between plates and maintains a dependable seal through mild thermal shifts. However, NBR doesn’t enjoy ozone, direct sunlight, or strong cleaning chemicals. These conditions speed up aging and cause the rubber to harden or crack. Once temperatures climb too high, it begins to lose elasticity quickly, and the gasket won’t recover its original shape after compression. For systems operating within moderate temperatures and where oils dominate the fluid stream, NBR remains a practical, cost-effective choice.
EPDM performs impressively inside water-based systems, especially those running hot water, steam, or alkaline CIP solutions. Its structure remains flexible even after repeated heating and cooling, which helps maintain a consistent seal in HVAC chillers, dairy pasteurizers, breweries, and sanitation pipelines. It resists swelling when exposed to steam or cleaning detergents, making it ideal for hygienic operations where cleaning cycles happen frequently. The downside appears when oils enter the system. Hydrocarbons attack EPDM quickly, causing it to soften, swell, or lose tensile strength. Because of that, EPDM never works well in fuel, lubricant, or oil-blended media. When kept in the right environment—mainly water, steam, or alkaline cleaners—it provides long service life at a very reasonable cost.
Viton is the robust, high-performance option used when neither temperature nor chemical exposure can be compromised. It holds its structure even when exposed to aggressive acids, solvents, hydrocarbons, high-temperature oils, or chlorinated water. Many refineries, chemical processors, geothermal plants, and reaction systems choose Viton because it resists deformation under extreme heat. It stays stable when other materials would soften, crack, or dissolve. The trade-off comes through price and low-temperature flexibility. Viton is more expensive than NBR or EPDM, and it becomes noticeably stiffer when the environment drops to very cold temperatures. But inside harsh or corrosive systems, its durability and long-term sealing performance save far more cost by preventing downtime, gasket failures, or contamination incidents.
In HVAC systems, the most common fluids are water or water-glycol mixtures. These systems often face moderate temperatures and occasional chemical exposure from cleaning solutions or corrosion inhibitors. For these conditions, EPDM gaskets work best. They maintain flexibility under repeated thermal cycles and resist steam or water-induced degradation, ensuring reliable sealing over long service periods. EPDM also tolerates outdoor installations in rooftop chillers or district heating loops, making it a dependable choice for most HVAC applications.
Food and beverage processing systems frequently use hot water, steam, or alkaline cleaning solutions. Gaskets in these systems must not only seal effectively but also meet strict sanitation requirements. EPDM and food-grade silicone are excellent choices in these cases. They resist thermal stress from steam, maintain elasticity during repeated cleaning cycles, and comply with hygiene standards. Using the right material reduces the risk of contamination, protects product quality, and keeps maintenance costs low.
In chemical plants, refineries, or other industrial systems handling hydrocarbons, solvents, or acids, gaskets face aggressive conditions. Viton (FKM) is the ideal material here because it withstands high temperatures, strong chemicals, and repeated thermal cycling without losing its sealing properties. It stays stable where NBR or EPDM would degrade, swell, or crack, making it the preferred choice for critical chemical or oil-processing applications that cannot tolerate leaks or downtime.
Marine and power generation environments often involve saltwater, lubricating oils, or high-temperature heat transfer fluids. Both NBR and Viton gaskets perform well in these conditions. NBR handles oil-based fluids efficiently, offering cost-effective sealing for fuel systems or lubrication circuits. Viton, on the other hand, excels where high temperatures, aggressive chemicals, or corrosive saltwater could damage standard rubbers. Choosing the right gasket material in these applications ensures reliable performance, protects expensive equipment, and minimizes unscheduled maintenance.
Choosing the right gasket material ensures proper sealing, prevents leaks, protects equipment, and extends the system’s operational life, avoiding contamination, corrosion, or unexpected downtime.
You should consider the operating temperature, fluid type, pressure, chemical compatibility, cleaning procedures, and whether food-grade certification is required.
NBR (Nitrile Rubber) is generally the best choice for oil or fuel-based systems because it resists swelling and maintains a reliable seal in hydrocarbon-rich environments.
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is ideal for systems using water, steam, or alkaline cleaning solutions, as it remains flexible and resists degradation under these conditions.
Temperature extremes can cause gaskets to harden, soften, or lose elasticity. NBR is limited to moderate temperatures, EPDM handles hot water and steam, and Viton withstands very high temperatures and aggressive cycles.
Selecting the correct gasket material is not just a technical detail—it’s a key factor in ensuring long-term performance and reliability of your plate heat exchanger spare parts. NBR works well for oil and fuel systems, EPDM excels in water and steam applications, and Viton thrives under high-temperature or chemically aggressive conditions.
For businesses seeking high-quality, reliable components, Jiangsu Yuanzhuo Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. offers a full range of plate heat exchanger spare parts, including gaskets tailored to diverse industrial applications. Their expertise ensures you get the right material for your system, helping reduce maintenance issues, extend equipment life, and maintain peak operational efficiency.
