The Pikotek® VCS® gasket provides industry-leading insulating and sealing performance for aggressive service applications. Designed for use in pressures up to ANSI Class 2500 and API 10,000 psi, the VCS gasket delivers reliable sealing in demanding oil, gas, petrochemical, and industrial systems.¹
Why Choose Pikotek® VCS® Isolation Gaskets?
Its unique pressure-activated sealing technology requires significantly less bolt stress than conventional gaskets, helping simplify installation while maintaining sealing integrity. The gasket's bore-matched inner diameter reduces turbulence and helps prevent flange face erosion and corrosion, improving long-term system reliability.
For added value, the VCS gasket features a reusable retainer with replaceable seal elements, reducing maintenance costs and extending service life.
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Features & Benefits
- Delivers exceptional sealing and electrical isolation performance for critical pipeline and flange applications.
- Provides reliable sealing and insulation across all pressure classes up to ANSI 2500# and API 10,000#¹.
- Designed to withstand severe operating conditions, including high bending loads, vibration, temperature fluctuations, and pressure cycling¹.
- Engineered for corrosive service environments containing high levels of CO₂, H₂S, produced water, and other aggressive media.
- Superior isolation properties help protect against galvanic corrosion, cathodic protection current loss, and other pipeline isolation challenges³.
- Pressure-activated sealing technology ensures dependable performance while reducing the risk of costly leaks.
- Precision-machined to match the flange bore, protecting flange faces and minimizing turbulence at flange connections to reduce flow-induced erosion and corrosion.
- GPT can manufacture gaskets to match the inside diameter of virtually any flange assembly, helping mitigate flow-induced corrosion, erosion, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) commonly associated with conventional flange gaskets.
- Effectively reduces galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metal flange connections.
- Insulating kits include high-strength double washers and full-length sleeves as standard for maximum electrical isolation and protection against short circuits.
- Durable high-strength laminate materials resist damage from excessive compression and over-tightened flange bolts.
- Spring-energized PTFE sealing elements provide consistent radial loading and full seal groove encapsulation to eliminate cold flow and maintain long-term sealing integrity.
- Available for virtually all flange standards, including ANSI, API, BS, DIN, AS, and other international specifications.
- Capable of sealing mismatched RTJ and Raised Face flange connections.
- Reusable design helps reduce maintenance costs and downtime.
- Easy to install, assemble, and remove. The rigid construction simplifies installation, requires lower bolt loads, reduces flange and bolt stress, and features self-aligning, self-centering performance with no special tools required.
Tandem seal configurations are available in 6-inch sizes and larger and are standard on 24-inch sizes and above. Contact GPT Engineering for additional size availability.
Note: Electrical performance values are based on laboratory-conditioned samples tested under controlled laboratory conditions. Exposure to moisture, elevated temperatures, or service conditions may affect values as defined by applicable ASTM and other industry test standards.
¹ Based on design review. Contact GPT Product Engineering for additional application and performance information.
³ Refer to the VCS Data Sheet for complete details regarding electrical isolation performance and testing.
Applications
- Flange insulation kits used with cathodic protection systems prevent corrosion and extend asset life
- Electrical insulation between dissimilar metals reduce galvanic corrosion and protect pipeline integrity
- Wellhead isolation from interconnected flow lines for enhanced corrosion control and system reliability
- Insulated valve connections for improved electrical isolation and corrosion prevention
- Electrical isolation solutions for Christmas Tree connections in oil and gas applications
- Compressor connection insulation designed to minimize corrosion and improve equipment performance
- Tank and heat exchanger isolation with sacrificial anodes maximize anode efficiency and service life
- Seal mismatched ring-joint (RTJ) and raised-face flanges with VCS technology compatible with RTJ, raised-face, and flat-face/slip-on flanges
- Prevent fluid-trap corrosion between ring-joint (RTJ) flanges exposed to CO2, H2S, and other aggressive hydrocarbon media
- Reduce turbulence and flow-induced erosion between ring-joint (RTJ) flanges to improve sealing performance and reliability
Product Specifications
G-10 NEMA grade G-10 Glass-Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) laminate material:
- Available in NIST G10CR process specification for materials used in cryogenic applications
- Compressive Strength: 66,000 PSI
- Dielectric Strength: 800 VPM Max.
- Continuous Operating Temp: 302°F (150 °C) ⁴
- Minimum Continuous Operating Temp: (minus) -200 °F (-128 °C) ⁵
- Water Absorption: 0.10
- Flexural Strength: LW 65,000 PSI / CW 52,000 PSI
- Tensile Strength: LW 40,000 / CW 32,000 (ASTM D638)
- Bond Strength: 2,300 lb.
- Shear Strength: 21,500 PSI
⁴ As per certificate Z1303
⁵ As per NAM Shell Design certificate
G-11 NEMA LI1 grade G-11 Glass-Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) laminate material:
- Compressive Strength: 50,000 PSI
- Dielectric Strength: 550 VPM Max.
- Continuous Operating Temp: 392° F (200 °C) Maximum
- Continuous Operating Temp: (minus) -50°F (-45°C) Minimum
- Moisture Absorption: 0.09
- Flexural Strength: LW 57,000 PSI
- Tensile Strength: LW 41,000 PSI
- Bond Strength: 2,200 lb.
- Shear Strength: 21,000 PSI
One flange isolation and sealing gasket, VCS Type “F”, available in 0.260" or 0.308" thicknesses, featuring a 316 stainless steel core retainer laminated on both sides with a high-performance G-10 fiberglass-reinforced laminate. The gasket incorporates a precision-machined tapered groove designed to accommodate the controlled compression of a PTFE spring-energized seal for reliable sealing performance. Seal placement is engineered to suit flat face, raised face, and RTJ (Ring Type Joint) flange applications. The PTFE sealing element is both spring-energized and pressure-energized, ensuring superior sealing integrity under demanding operating conditions. The G-10 retainer provides excellent electrical isolation with a dielectric strength of 800 volts/mil and a minimum compressive strength of 66,000 psi. For optimal fit and performance, the inside diameter (I.D.) of the flange isolation gasket shall match the bore size of the flange in which it is installed.