Spiral wound gaskets are a specific gasket design used in high-temperature and high-pressure applications, such as oil and gas operations, refineries, and chemical processing plants. These gaskets are made by winding a metal strip and a filler material, usually graphite or PTFE, in a spiral pattern.

The outer and inner diameters of the gasket may include additional layers of metal and filler material. This design provides a combination of strength, resilience, and the ability to withstand extreme operating conditions.

The colors of a spiral wound gasket matter. Industry standards require these gaskets to be color-coded, helping users quickly identify the materials used in the gasket’s construction.

Spiral wound gaskets typically use two distinct color identifiers: the color of the outside rim and the color stripe along the rim. Using the guide below, you can identify common winding materials and filler materials. Those in the oil and gas industry have likely seen gaskets with yellow, green, or orange outside rims, which commonly represent 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, and Monel. The rim stripe is often gray, indicating flexible graphite, a filler used in many different industries and applications.