GYLON 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.

picture of 3504 epix gasketINDUSTRY

Primary Metals

CUSTOMER

Steel Mill

BACKGROUND ON APPLICATION

10” GRE (glass reinforced epoxy) stub end flanges with a wafer type valve in between. The application consisted of two gaskets for the joint, one on either side of the valve.

CUSTOMER CHALLENGES FACED

GRE also known as FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) are nonmetallic and lack universal design criteria when it comes to gasketing. These flanges are more fragile and do not allow high bolt loads to compress and seal the gasket. Rubber is a common solution for low load applications but it does not have the chemical resistance needed for use with highly corrosive media, such as that in a pickling process.

OPERATING CONDITIONS

  • Temperature - 80°C (176° F)
  • Application - 10” GRE (FRP) stub end flanges with loose backing flanges, two gaskets compressed by one set of bolts containing a wafer valve.
  • Media - 18% Hydrochloric acid in a pickling pipe system
  • Pressure - 4 bar (58 psig) maximum.
  • Installation was performed with hand wrenches, no torque wrenches were used.

SOLUTION AND BENEFITS

GYLON EPIX™ Style 3504 gaskets have outlasted any previous solution. GYLON EPIX™ is manufactured as a sheet and so was able to be cut to the shape required. The materials of GYLON EPIX™ Style 3504 are resistant to the pickling solution and the patented surface features facilitated the successful sealing of the GRE flanges.

>>> Buy Garlock 3504 gaskets <<<

The original case study can be found on Garlock's website.

Gallagher is your source for all of your Garlock sealing needs.  If you have further questions regarding the GYLON EPIX™ 3504 EPX, or any other Garlock products, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our engineering department is always ready to help you design a sealing solution to your toughest application!