News

Gasket manufacturers will be able to use a new ASTM International standard test to see how their products handle various compression and loads. The new standard(F3270/F3270M) was developed by ASTM International committee on gaskets (F03). This test method shows the compression properties of a gasket by measuring its deflection while subjected to an increasing load. ASTM International member Jim Lingenfelder said that the test can provide information at both ambient and elevated temperatures, helping producers work with customers who have specific needs. “In some instances, for example in pumps, a gasket material should not only create a seal, but it is also being used as a shim for correct placement of the pump’s internal parts,” says Lingenfelder, who works at Gasket Resources. “This would be a situation where the pump manufacturer would ask for load-versus-compression properties of a gasket material.”