Asbestos Gasket Material and Heat Seals
Gasket material is used in the production of the sealing devices that are similar to mechanical washers used to create pressure-tight seals between two connecting parts, known as gaskets. Gaskets help keep gases and liquids from escaping through joints or seams in mechanical parts and are used to compensate for movement, pressure and temperature changes.
Heat seals, also called thermal seals, are used along with gaskets to insulate the space between two parts from the transfer of heat. Both gaskets and heat seals were commonly manufactured with asbestos prior to the 1980s, as asbestos was known for its ability to insulate and prevent the transfer of heat.
Uses for Gasket Material and Heat Seals
Gaskets are cut from gasket material that typically consists of rubber and a strong, heat-resistant material such as asbestos. Sheets of compressed asbestos were used until the 1980s in gasket material and heat seals, as the long and hollow asbestos fibers provided superior and low-cost strength and resistance to high temperatures when the fibers were compressed.
Newer gasket material that does not contain asbestos may be made with various rubbers, carbon fibers and fillers such as paper, copper, silicone, graphite, metal, cork, felt, neoprene or fiberglass.
Gasket material and heat seals made from asbestos were used in almost every mechanical system that involved the transport of gases, hot oils, steam, chemicals, grease or acid. Uses for gaskets and heat seals include:
- Pumps
- Compressors
- Valves
- Mixers
- Boilers
- Automobiles
- Engines
- Turbines
- Pipes
- Cylinder heads
- Heat exchangers
- Condensers
Potential Hazards of Gasket Material and Heat Seals
Gasket material or heat seals that appear white or flaky may contain asbestos and pose a serious health hazard. Gasket material and heat seals manufactured prior to the 1980s likely contain asbestos fibers, which can cause lung damage, lung cancer or mesothelioma if inhaled.
Asbestos fibers can be released from gasket material and heat seals if the material is sawed, ground, sanded or disturbed. While modern-day gaskets and seals are made using non-asbestos material, older gaskets such as those found in old car engines may contain dangerous asbestos material.
Who May be Affected by Asbestos Exposure
Individuals who worked directly with gasket material or heat seals manufactured prior to the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos fibers, which can cause serious health complications. Individuals who worked in factories that produced asbestos-containing gasket material or heat seals are particularly at risk for asbestos-related complications. Car mechanics who removed or repaired old heat seals or gaskets are also at risk.
Sanding, cutting, ripping or disturbing asbestos-containing gaskets or heat seals can release asbestos fibers into the air, where they then can be inhaled or ingested. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers can cause serious lung damage or lead to the development of cancer. Airborne asbestos fibers may also bind to clothing and affect family members or other individuals who come into contact with people who have worked in areas containing airborne asbestos.
Those who worked in the following industries may have been exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets or heat seals:
- Shipbuilding
- Chemical engineering
- Automobile manufacturing
- Automobile repairs
- Manufacturing of appliances or electronics
- Aerospace equipment production
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
