KLINGER News

Use of KLINGER KGS GII Rubber-Steel-Gaskets in existing and future-oriented gas infrastructure

2026-01-13T13:07:00+01:00

Permanent, technical and costable certainty in planning, design and sustainability with any concentrations of hydrogen in natural gas up to pure hydrogen processes.

The use of Rubber-Steel-Gaskets made of the elastomeric synthetic acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) has been common practice for natural gas for many years and has been the standard for design pressures DP up to 10 bar. The classic temperature range for this is specified as -15 °C to +60 °C.

The use of rubber gaskets with metallic inserts for design pressures DP from over 10 bar to 40 bar is permissible if proof of creep behaviour, blow-out resistance, maximum and minimum contact pressure and ageing behaviour has been provided in accordance with DIN 28090-2/DIN EN 13555
(© DIN 30690-1:2019-05).

The strength of the flange connection (DIN EN 1591:2009) for the KLINGER KGS GII/NBR Rubber-Steel-Gasket can be calculated based on the determined sealing coefficients (based on DIN EN 13555:2021-04). Relevant up-to-date data is always available on the internet platform www.gasketdata.org.

Specific features of Rubber-Steel-Gaskets used in hydrogenous processes

Hydrogen is considered a chemically very inert substance under the aforementioned operating, pressure and temperature conditions. From a physical point of view, however, it has a very high diffusion pressure due to its very small kinetic molecular diameter (approx. 2.3 to 2.9 [mA]). This means that there is an intensive interaction between hydrogen and all materials coming into contact with hydrogen.

With regard to acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), this means that prevention of embrittlement of the elastomer due to a high content of acrylonitrile (ACN) in the rubber compound itself must be assured on an ongoing basis, while ensuring that the rubber-elastic properties are retained. In particular, it is important to keep the glass temperature of NBR as low as possible in order to enable use at low temperatures (as low as -30 °C).
Furthermore, when manufacturing Rubber-Steel-Gaskets, it is important to ensure that no cavities can form in the elastomeric moulded body itself during the manufacturing process. Otherwise, there is a risk of rapid gas decompression.

Likewise, the bond between the elastomer and the steel insert must be particularly strong. Rubber and steel are closed-pore materials that do not form a chemical bond with each other and only bond to each other by interlocking. To significantly improve the adhesion of the elastomer, the steel insert is first subjected to a surface treatment, i.e. primed. This causes the adhesion force of rubber to the primer – adhesion – to be greater than the cohesive force of the rubber itself. Even after heavy moulding of the steel insert in the Rubber-Steel-Gasket, there is no shearing of the elastomeric moulded body or bubble formation between the elastomer and the steel insert. However, the prerequisite for this is that the cohesion of the primer and the adhesion of it to the steel insert are always greater than the cohesion of the elastomer itself.

Thanks to the carefully selected materials and precise production under very high pressures of up to 300 bar, the KLINGER KGS GII is a Rubber-Steel-Gasket with unique features.
After testing and evaluation by TÜV SÜD, the KLINGER KGS GII Rubber-Steel-Gasket was recognised as a particularly high-quality gasket. For NBR quality, when it comes to the chemical and physical resistance of the elastomeric synthetic rubber, unrestricted use for hydrogen applications, compliance with the leakage limits according to TA-Luft (the German Clean Air Act) after ageing for 1,500 hours (VDI 2440: 2000-11, L0.01 DIN EN 13555:2014-07) in the sense of technical tightness, as well as blow-out safety class C (blow-out safety under TRwS [Technical Rules for Substances Hazardous to Water], Qs min: 4 [MPa] at 100 [bar]) are certified. In addition, the balanced high acrylonitrile content (ACN) provides long-term resistance to hydrogen.

Ease of use and safe installation for sustainable use of KLINGER KGS GII Rubber-Steel-Gasket

A gasket must essentially close two potential leak sources:

Diffusion through the gasket itself – here it’s very important to close any pores or channels in the sealing material by means of adequate pre-tensioning between two flange blades. Since the elastomer in question – NBR – is a closed-pore sealing material and, once manufactured into a KLINGER KGS GII Rubber-Steel-Gasket, a non-porous sealing material, diffusion is counteracted to the maximum even in the non-pretensioned state.
Diffusion between the phase limits of the gasket and the surfaces of the flange sealing strips of a flange connection – in this case an effective and cavity-free tight fit needs to be achieved with adequate pre-tensioning of the gasket.

The defined working range of a gasket begins with the minimum pre-tensioning of a gasket, the point at which a tightness demonstrably occurs with reference to the aforementioned points 1 and 2 and ends with the maximum pre-tensioning of this before the gasket is destroyed.

Ideally, a gasket should have a wide working range, making handling and assembly significantly easier, i.e. a low minimum pre-tensioning is required for sealing and a high maximum pre-tensioning is possible, e.g. when using high-strength screw grades (8.8, 25CrMo4, etc.).

The elastomeric synthetic acrylic-nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) KLINGER KGS GII Rubber-Steel-Gasket has a working range of 0.5 MPa to 40 MPa (QSmin(L) to Qsmax),Smax) – unprecedented in Rubber-Steel-Gaskets. Detailed tightening torques can also be provided on request as minimum and maximum data for various screw grades and metric dimensions (DIN EN 1514-1: 1997-08) up to an operating pressure of 40 bar (MOP – Maximum Operating Pressure 40 bar).

A special version – the KLINGER KGS GII HP Rubber-Steel-Gasket – is available for PN 63 and PN 100 (dimensions according to DIN EN 1514-4) with operating pressures of up to 63 bar and 100 bar. Installation conditions can be provided on clarification.

KLINGER KGS GII/NBR Rubber-Steel-Gasket findings:

A variety of tests and test series have demonstrated that the KLINGER KGS GII/NBR Rubber-Steel-Gasket delivers durable and safe technical tightness with easy handling and installation. The sealing coefficients determined in accordance with DIN EN 13555 (Helium, He) can be used to calculate flange connections in hydrogenous and/or hydrogen-containing processes.

Stellen Sie jetzt Ihre Fragen an unseren Experten:

» Robert Steffens, Geschäftsbereichsleiter Elastomere bei KLINGER Germany

» Tel: +49 6126 4016 0 Email: robert.steffens@klinger.de

KLINGER Gaja: Revolutionizing sustainability in sealing solutions

2024-05-08T11:44:00+02:00

KLINGER Dichtungstechnik launches its latest innovation, the eco-friendly gasket KLINGER Gaja.

Welcome to the future of sealing technology – welcome to KLINGER Gaja. At KLINGER Dichtungstechnik we are thrilled to unveil our latest innovation that is set to redefine the industry's approach to sustainability. KLINGER Gaja isn't just a product; it's a testament to our commitment to environmental responsibility and a showcase of our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in eco-friendly engineering solutions.

In an era where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword but a pressing necessity, KLINGER Gaja stands out as a beacon of change. Crafted with a meticulous focus on sustainability, KLINGER Gaja is the result of extensive research and development aimed at reducing environmental impact without compromising on performance.

KLINGER Gaja contains the highest possible number of renewable raw materials.

To delve deeper into the development and features of KLINGER Gaja, we talked with Stephan Piringer, Head of Product Engineering at KLINGER Dichtungstechnik, about the inspiration behind KLINGER Gaja, its innovative features, and the impact it's poised to make in the world of sealing technology.

Mr. Piringer, what inspired you to develop a gasket made from renewable resources?
Stephan Piringer: Primarily, the inspiration came from two sources. Firstly, in recent years, we have been calculating the CO2 footprint of our products, known as the Product Carbon Footprint. A significant realization was that a large portion of our carbon footprint is rather due to how and where we source our raw materials and not to our processes. To reduce this footprint, it was evident that we needed to focus on sustainable sourcing. The other inspiration came from my responsibility for sustainability. I have observed that in projects with a sustainability focus, there is always a search for more ecological alternatives. I wanted to apply this principle to our products to appeal to customers seeking particularly sustainable sealing solutions.

“In our pursuit of sustainability, KLINGER Gaja goes beyond environmentally friendly solutions in our processes and takes a further step by driving sustainability along the supply chain by using renewable resources to reduce our product carbon footprint.”

Stephan Piringer, Head of Product Engineering
at KLINGER Dichtungstechnik

What specific renewable resources are used in KLINGER Gaja and why were they chosen?
Stephan Piringer: In principle, a fiber-reinforced gasket consists of a blend of fibers, elastomers, mineral fillers, and other components. We have endeavored to replace each of these components with sustainable alternatives. For example, we use natural rubber instead of synthetic rubber and renewable fibers instead of synthetically produced ones. One particularly innovative component is bio-circular silica, which is derived from rice waste. This choice is based on the fact that it is obtained from waste, making it particularly eco-friendly.

How does KLINGER Gaja differ from conventional gasket materials in terms of performance, durability, and environmental friendliness?
Stephan Piringer: KLINGER Gaja is significantly more environmentally friendly, as many of its components are renewable. Regarding the technical performance and durability, it is important to consider that that many products in the KLINGERSIL range have been specially designed for certain applications, temperature ranges, media, etc. Gaja, on the other hand, was primarily developed to offer a general sustainable option.

Can you tell me about the development process of KLINGER Gaja? Were there any particular challenges or breakthroughs?
Stephan Piringer: One of the biggest challenges was developing a formulation with completely new raw materials. It was a kind of trial-and-error process, testing and adjusting various formulations variations until we achieved the optimal result. It required a lot of experience, patience and experimentation, but in the end, we developed a sustainable and high-performing sealing solution.

More about KLINGER Gaja

With KLINGER Gaja, we are setting an example for sustainable innovations in the industry, demonstrating that environmental friendliness and performance can go hand in hand.

Contacts mentioned in the article:

» LinkedIn: Stephan Piringer, Head of Product Engineering at KLINGER Dichtungstechnik

» Tel: +43 2252 62599-154 Email: piringer@klinger.co.at

KLINGER Group Image Video

2020-02-26T11:49:00+01:00

Die KLINGER Group

KLINGER ist der weltweit führende Hersteller und Anbieter von Industriedichtungen und Armaturen. 1886 als Familienbetrieb gegründet, präsentiert sich das Unternehmen heute als weltweit agierende Gruppe.

Tag der Dichtungstechnik

2020-02-26T11:47:00+01:00

Ein gutes Beispiel für die Partnerschaft zum Technischen Handel

Am 05.12.2018 organisierte die Friedrich Benien GmbH & Co. KG in Bremen einen Tag der Dichtungstechnik. Die KLINGER GmbH steuerte das spezifische Fachwissen über interessante Fachvorträge mit deutlichem Praxisbezug bei und die eingeladenen Kunden haben den Nutzen.

VTH-Top-Partner

2020-02-26T11:47:00+01:00

We are happy to continue the development of this industry sector as an active "Quality Partner" also in the future and present the corresponding new logo.

KLINGER KGS GII, welcome in the future!

2020-02-26T11:46:00+01:00

The new Generation of rubber-steel gaskets: higher load capacity, secure sealing and environmental friendliness, no intrusion and extrusion.