Miscellaneous Materials

Q: When should an engineer specify flexible graphite over traditional elastomeric or fiber gaskets?

Flexible graphite is specified for extreme thermal and pressure conditions where organic binders in rubber and fiber sheets would decompose. With 99%+ elemental carbon, it exhibits zero creep relaxation, provides universal chemical resistance across pH 0–14, and maintains joint seals from cryogenic temperatures up to 950°F (510°C) in oxygen and up to 5,400°F (3,000°C) in inert atmospheres.

Q: What makes cork-and-rubber blends superior for stamped engine covers and low-bolt-load flanges?

Solid rubber is incompressible and extrudes laterally away from bolt holes under torque. Granulating cork into synthetic rubber (such as Nitrile or Neoprene) creates controlled volumetric compressibility. The gasket conforms to uneven stamped sheet-metal or lightweight cast aluminum surfaces without lateral creep, delivering a fluid-tight seal under low clamping force.

Q: What are rubber-coated metal (RCM) gaskets, and where are they used?

Rubber-coated metal composites feature a rigid metal core (steel or aluminum) vulcanized with a thin outer layer of Nitrile, Viton, or Polyacrylate elastomer. The metal core ensures structural stiffness and bolt torque retention under high pressure, while the elastomeric coating conforms to micro-imperfections on machined flange faces, commonly used in transmissions and compressor valve plates.

CGR Offers Cork, Graphite, Metals And Other Miscellaneous Materials To Deliver A True Customization Capabilities For Our Customers.

We offer our customers some of the best variety of stock products available in the industry, as well as the dedication and attention to create gaskets and seals for virtually every application.

Part of the ability to provide this service is our access to an almost limitless number of miscellaneous raw materials. If foam and other rubber gaskets don’t meet your needs we likely have something in stock that will:

Specialty, Composite & Miscellaneous Materials Converting

CGR Products converts a broad inventory of specialty raw materials beyond standard elastomers and foams—including pure flexible graphite, engineered cork compositions, thin-gauge metals, technical films, and PTFE fluoropolymers. We also partner with OEMs to convert customer-supplied specialty roll and sheet goods. Please view the table below for a complete list of miscellaneous materials.

Material Category	Description	Suppliers & Specs
Pure Flexible Graphite	Homogeneous expanded graphite sheet providing near-universal chemical inertness, high thermal conductivity, and zero creep relaxation. Operates continuously from cryogenic temperatures up to 950°F (510°C) in oxidizing atmospheres and up to 5,400°F (3,000°C) in non-oxidizing or inert environments.	MTI · Garlock (Graphonic®) · SGL Carbon
Tanged & Reinforced Graphite	Flexible graphite mechanically bonded or laminated to 316 stainless steel tanged (perforated) cores, flat metal foils, or polyester film carriers. Drastically increases tensile handling strength and blowout resistance under extreme internal pressure cycles.	MTI · Garlock · GrafTech
Cork & Rubber Compositions	High-grade granulated cork particles bound with synthetic Nitrile (NBR), Neoprene, or Silicone elastomers. Combines the high compressibility and irregular flange conformability of cork with the fluid impermeability and elastic recovery of synthetic rubber.	Amorim Cork Composites · Ecore
PTFE / Fluoropolymers (Teflon™)	Virgin, mechanical, and glass/carbon-filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sheeting. Delivers an ultra-low coefficient of friction, high dielectric strength, broad continuous service from -350°F to 500°F, and near-complete chemical resistance across the entire 0–14 pH scale.	Chemours (Teflon™) · Saint-Gobain · Garlock (Gylon®)
Precision Metals & Shim Stock	Thin-gauge sheet and coiled metals including 1010 mild steel, 300/400-series stainless steel, brass, copper, and aluminum (gauges from 0.001″ to heavy plate). Fabricated into precise bearing alignment shims, spacing washers, heat-reflective barriers, and rigid flange seals.	Wolverine Advanced Materials · MTI
Rubber-Coated Metal Composites	Cold-rolled steel or aluminum cores coated on one or both sides with thin, vulcanized layers of Nitrile, Polyacrylate, or Viton® elastomers. Combines structural rigidity and high torque retention with micro-sealing conformability on cast metal surfaces.	Wolverine · Trelleborg · MTI
Engineering Plastics & Films	Rigid and flexible thermoplastic sheet films including Mylar® (PET), Kapton® (polyimide), Polycarbonate (Lexan™), HDPE, UHMW, Acetal (Delrin®), and Nylon. Die-cut and CNC waterjet cut for wear strips, electrical insulators, low-friction guide rails, and chemical barrier liners.	DuPont · SABIC · Emco Industrial Plastics
Reclosable Fasteners & Anti-Slip	Heavy-duty mechanical fastening systems including woven hook-and-loop, 3M™ Dual Lock™ interlocking mushroom-head stems, molded 3M™ Bumpons™ protective feet, and 3M™ Safety-Walk™ mineral-coated slip-resistant surface tapes.	3M™ · Velcro® Companies · Aplix
Customer-Supplied Specialty Materials	Full converting, slitting, skiving, laminating, and die-cutting services applied to OEM proprietary materials, specialty fabrics, custom composites, and pre-treated web substrates. Allows manufacturers to scale production without capital equipment investment.	OEM Contract Converting

Frequently Asked Questions: Specialty Materials & Contract Converting

When should an engineer specify flexible graphite over traditional elastomeric or fiber gaskets?

Flexible graphite is specified for extreme thermal and pressure conditions where organic binders in rubber and fiber sheets would char, embrittle, or decompose. Flexible graphite contains 99%+ elemental carbon, meaning it exhibits zero creep relaxation under bolt torque, provides near-universal chemical resistance (pH 0–14), and maintains seal integrity from cryogenic levels up to 950°F (510°C) in atmospheric oxygen and up to 5,400°F (3,000°C) in inert environments.

What makes cork-and-rubber blends superior for stamped engine covers and low-bolt-load flanges?

Solid rubber is incompressible (constant volume under displacement) and tends to extrude laterally away from bolt holes under torque. Raw cork is compressible but can be porous. By embedding granulated cork inside synthetic rubber (such as Nitrile or Neoprene), the material gains controlled volumetric compressibility. It conforms to irregular stamped sheet-metal or lightweight aluminum casting surfaces without spreading laterally, providing a reliable oil- and fuel-tight seal under low clamping loads.

How does CGR Products cut precision metal shims and heavy plastic substrates without distortion?

CGR Products pairs high-tonnage mechanical stamping presses with multi-head CNC abrasive waterjet cutting systems. For thin metal shims and engineering plastic films (such as Mylar® or Kapton®), tight-clearance tool steel dies stamp high-volume parts with crisp edges. For thick-gauge metals (stainless steel, brass, aluminum) and dense engineering plastics (UHMW, Delrin®, heavy PTFE), CNC abrasive waterjet cutting slices complex shapes without generating heat-affected zones, thermal warpage, or mechanical edge burrs.

What are rubber-coated metal (RCM) gaskets, and where are they used?

Rubber-coated metal composites consist of a rigid metal core (typically cold-rolled steel or aluminum) vulcanized with a micro-thin outer coating of Nitrile, Viton®, or Polyacrylate elastomer on both faces. The metal core provides rigid structural support, maintains bolt torque retention, and resists blowout under extreme hydraulic pressure, while the elastomeric coating conforms to micro-imperfections on machined flange surfaces. RCM gaskets are standard in automotive transmissions, compressor valve plates, and fluid pump manifolds.

Can CGR Products convert and die-cut materials supplied directly by our company?

Yes. CGR Products provides full-scale contract toll converting and contract die-cutting for OEM-supplied materials. Whether your application involves proprietary coated fabrics, patented thermal barriers, or specialty acoustic composites, our multi-plant converting facilities provide precision roll slitting, hot-roll adhesive lamination, traveling head die cutting, and CNC waterjet fabrication without requiring your facility to invest in dedicated converting capital equipment.