GYLON EPIX™ 3504 EPXGYLON EPIX™ is a family of gaskets that effectively seals a broader range of applications and is more forgiving during the installation process.  It allows the end user to save valuable turn-around time, reduce re-work, and lower costs, helping them to finish ahead of schedule and under budget.

GYLON EPIX™ features a hexagonal surface profile that provides the torque retention and blowout resistance of a thin gasket and the conformability of a thicker gasket.  GYLON EPIX™ Style 3504 EPX is a high performance, aluminosilicate microsphere filled PTFE sheet material designed for use in moderate concentrations of acids, and caustics, as well as hydrocarbons, refrigerants, and more.


INDUSTRY

Mining

CUSTOMER

Copper Mine

BACKGROUND

Customer reported problems with continuous leaks that required ongoing maintenance and attention taking manpower and resources away from other critical operations for the plant.

CHALLENGES FACED

For this customer the issue of having to constantly retighten the fluoroelastomer (FKM) rubber and ePTFE gaskets until they would no longer seal was compounded by the fact that the pipeline was many miles long. This meant workers had to drive the pipeline daily in search out and repair leaks.

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Application 1:

  • Temperature: Ambient
  • Media: Water with some solids
  • 24” class 150 HDPE stub end flanges with metal backers
  • Pressure: 113 psig (780 KPa)

Application 2:

  • Temperature: Ambient
  • Media: Water with some solids
  • 24” Class 150 stub end HDPE flange with metal backer mated to a flat face Class 150 metal flange
  • Pressure: 113 psig (780 KPa)

GYLON EPIX™ 3504 EPX

SOLUTION AND BENEFITS

GYLON EPIX™ 3504 EPX was able to bridge the stress-required-to-seal gap between rubber and traditional PTFE gaskets. In addition, the higher compressibility allowed the 3504 EPX gasket to conform around the heavier more pronounced serrations or ridges molded into the face of the HDPE stub end flange connections. Lastly, the improved crush resistance of the 3504 EPX over the rubber (FKM) meant higher assembly stresses could be applied without worries of crushing or extruding the gasket.