A problem vital to both gasket manufacturer and consumer is selecting the gasket best qualified for a particular application. An equal problem to the consumer is controlling the quality of gaskets entering their plants. A newly accepted ASTM relaxation test method and several new sealing tests still under development are presented. Many of the variables affecting gasket relaxation are discussed. The fundamental requirements for an all encompassing sealing test are presented. Although the goal of a single sealing test was not achieved by any of the tests presented, these new tests represent a significant step forward.
