General FAQs

• What is the right material for my application?

  The answer is that it Depends !! There are 3 primary factors in deciding the material for your application 1. Temperature: What is the operating temp Read more...

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• What thickness material should I chose?

  As a general rule, choose the thinnest material possible for your application because the pressure exerted on the gasket will increase with its thickn Read more...

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• How do I determine the Outer Diameter (O.D.) and Inner Diameter (I.D.) of my gasket?

  The inner dimension of your gasket is the size of the hole or bore. To calculate the outer dimension of your gasket, measure the outer dimension of th Read more...

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• How do I determine which Class or Table of gasket I need?

  The easiest way to work out which class or table of gasket you need is to browse here: http://www.phelpsgaskets.com/products/gaskets/standard-flange-g Read more...

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• How do I find out the Pitch Circle Diameter (P.C.D.) of my gasket?

  The pitch circle diameter is the diameter that specifies the centre of bolt holes of your gasket. The P.C.D. is measured from the centre of the bore.

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• Does Open-Cell Foam absorb moisture or water and cause issues?

  The building codes recognizes both open and closed-cell foam as meeting the requirements of a true air-barrier. Since most water vapor is transported Read more...

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• Can I use painters tape on cork?

  Yes but be very careful how long you leave the tape on it and carefully remove it because the adhesive on the back on the tape “MAY” damag Read more...

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• Do I need to use anti-seize for? Should I use anti-sieze?

  Using anti-seize on your hardware such as the bolts, nuts and springs assures consistent, even loads are being applied. Anti-seizes are made up of var Read more...

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• What is the difference between butt and skive cut rings?

  A butt cut joint is typically a straight on a piece of packing when the ends are joined.These cuts or joints are primarily used in rotating applicatio Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 1 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection for equipment conta Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 2 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection for equipment conta Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 3 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor and outdoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 3R enclosure?

  Designed for indoor and outdoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 4X enclosure?

  Designed for indoor and outdoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 5 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the equipment co Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 6 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor and outdoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 6P enclosure?

  Designed for indoor and outdoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 12 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use With knockouts Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 12K enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use With knockouts Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of Read more...

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• What is NEMA Type 13 enclosure?

  Designed for indoor use Degree of protection for personnel, against access to hazardous internal components Degree of protection of the equipment co Read more...

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• What is the difference between “Extended” and 100% silicone sealants?

  Extended” silicone sealants are mixed (or cut) with various types of oils & solvents, to varying degrees (sometimes up to 35%!). “Cutt Read more...

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• Is silicone paintable?

  Silicone sealants are not paintable. For a paintable solution we recommend latex based caulks.

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• What colors do silicone sealants come in?

  Phelps carries Phelps Silicone sealants in Clear, White, Black, and Aluminum. Mildew resistant formulations are available in Clear, White, and Tr Read more...

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• At What temperature can silicone caulk be applied?

  Phelps Silicone Sealants can be applied in a temperature range of -25°F to 120°F. However, for best application results the caulk itself Read more...

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• Can I apply new silicone atop, or alongside old silicone caulk?

  It is recommended that any old silicone is removed. While new, freshly applied silicone can be applied & will bond to old silicone – the bon Read more...

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• How do I store silicone caulk?

  Remove the screw on nozzle, and make sure any air is removed by pushing the caulk to the tip of the cartridge before replacing the screw on nozzle. Read more...

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• Does silicone caulk go bad?

  Silicone Sealants typicall have one-year shelf life guarantee. You can always test the caulk before starting a project by running a small bead of caul Read more...

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• Does the use of (Heat) Traced Lines affect the gasket joint?

  Heat traced lines pumping materials can present a number of problems for gaskets: The bolts are usually hotter than the flanges since the heat is a Read more...

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• Does Phelps recommend the use of torques wrenches to tighten the flange bolts?

  We realize many end users hesitate using a torque wrench for installation. We firmly believe the use of a torque wrench is the least painful way to ga Read more...

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• What thickness is best for a gasket?

  In general, Phelps recommends the use of thinner gaskets wherever possible. This increases the performance of the joint by lowering emissions, lowerin Read more...

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• How do I fill a large gap in flanges? Can I stack gaskets? (Spacers in Flanges)

  We understand that some installations require a very thick gasket to fill a large gap between flanges. In such scenarios, we do not recommend stacking Read more...

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• What is the recommended Shelf Life for gaskets?

  Please visit Phelps' General Age of Elastomers for detaisl on each type of materials - (non)Elastomers, Graphites, PTFE etc. Read more...

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• What are the best gaskets for Monomers?

  Monomers are materials, such as styrene and vinyl chloride, which can combine with themselves and become polymers, such as polystyrene and polyvinyl c Read more...

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• What do I need to be concerned with when Gaskets are installed in Grooves or recesses?

  Gaskets installed in grooves or tongue and groove flanges require one extra consideration: the compressed height of the gasket must be considered. Thi Read more...

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• What are Gasket Constants?

  The ASME and ASTM committees are working on a new system and new set of numbers to be used in the ASME code calculations for flange design. These new Read more...

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• Does Phelps provide gasket materials that work with Fuel Additives like MTBE?

  The chemical MTBE (methyl t-butyl ether) has become a very common fuel additive and gasketing compatibility inquiries on this material are frequent. P Read more...

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• Which gaskets can I use for FDA applications?

  There are quite a few classes of materials that are safe for use in Food applications, and thereby FDA compliance. Phelps Style 7205 is F Read more...

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• What Commercially High Temp Gasket Materials Are Available

  It depends on various other factors such as Pressure, and on the Media. In general, the high temperature limit for most commercially available "Rubbe Read more...

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• what General Operating Yemperatures for Common Rubber Materials

  1. Urethane: less than 250°F (121°C) 2. Natural Rubber: less than 250°F (121°C) 3. Chloroprene (Neoprene): less than 300°F (149°C) 4. Nitrile (Buna Read more...

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• What is a tadpole tape, or tadpole gasket?

  Tadpole tapes or gaskets are resilient gasketing tapes formed by wrapping heat resistant cores with a variety of cover materials. The edges of the cov Read more...

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• How high a temperature do Phelps Gasket Sheets support?

  Phelps carries a wide range of products to support various Temperatures, Pressure, and Media. In general Phelps' carries sheets that can go 2400° Read more...

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• What gasket material is best for heavy duty Ship Engines?

  Frenzelit Novaphit class of gasket materials are made from high-quality expanded 100% graphite. Novaphit SSTC contain expanded metal inserts made Read more...

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