Spiral wound gaskets are high-performance industrial gaskets designed to seal flanged joints that endure extreme pressure and temperature. They’re most commonly used in petrochemical, power generation, and high-temperature steam or gas systems, but they are not typically used in automotive head gaskets or exhaust systems.

A spiral wound gasket is made by winding alternating layers of:

• Metal strip (usually stainless steel or Inconel)

• Soft filler material (typically graphite, PTFE, or ceramic)

It often includes:

• Inner ring: protects the gasket from heat or media attack

• Outer ring (centering ring): helps with alignment and prevents over-compression