Abstract:
Applicants provide a gasket having a sticky or tacky (to the touch) flexible or elastomeric, resilient body. The body has an upper surface which contacts an upper skin, a fabric, typically woven, non-sticky (to the touch and to the removable workpiece) and at least partly permeable (to the body when under compression), and a lower or second surface that is uncoated and uncovered. The upper skin adheres to the upper surface of the body but is generally non-tacky with respect to a removable workpiece and/or static base structure, which structure and workpiece will receive a gasket, typically under compression, therebetween. The body of the gasket may include a flexible skeleton or other flexible member substantially enclosed within the body.
Abstract:
A thin, cured gel gasket is disclosed, including methods of making the thin gel gasket and the use of the thin gel gasket in an aircraft joint. In one embodiment, the thin gel gasket has no skeleton or other structure and is comprised of only a cured polyurethane gel and has a thickness of less than about 12 mill. It is manufactured using a release film that is adapted in a number of ways to make release from the gel prior to use easier. In one method of making and using the thin gel gasket, it is applied to a joint which is subject to compression, in one embodiment, a lap joint of an aircraft fuselage.