gasket
GAS-kit
/ˈɡæs.kɪt/
A mechanical seal placed between two mating surfaces to prevent fluid leakage under compression.
Always placed between stationary metal or plastic faces, unlike dynamic seals (packings) around spinning shafts.
The story behind the word. Originally from French 'garcette', referring to small ropes used on sailing ships to secure folded sails to yards. Nautical sailors adapted the soft hemp material to seal pipe flanges on early marine steam boilers.
Word relationships
- seal: Seal is a generic term for any leak-prevention element; gasket is specifically a compressed sheet or ring between two flanges.
- washer: A washer primarily distributes load under a screw head, whereas a gasket primary purpose is fluid containment.
Commonly confused with
- grommet: A grommet protects wires or ropes passing through a hole, while a gasket seals high-pressure fluid joints.
Collocations
- blown gasket
- rubber gasket
- head gasket
- flange gasket
Idioms & expressions
- blow a gasket (to lose one's temper violently)
Example sentences
- "Before tightening the heavy steel flange bolts, the mechanic replaced the worn rubber gasket." Pipe maintenance
- "Coolant leaked directly into the combustion chamber because the cylinder head gasket blew out." Engine repair
Memory hook
GASKET keeps the GAS and liquid in the bucket. Seals two mating faces tightly.
When not to use
Do not confuse with liquid sealant pastes or moving dynamic o-rings.
Fun facts
- The idiom 'blow a gasket' comes from industrial steam engine head gaskets bursting catastrophically when pressure exceeded design limits.
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