Gasket assembly for sealed joints experiencing thermally induced movement

A gasket assembly adapted for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and an exhaust manifold with the gasket assembly being disposed between the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold when installed to form a pressure tight seal, comprising:

• a first substantially flat plate having an outer side and an opposite inner side;
• a second substantially flat plate having an outer side and an opposite inner side;
• the first and the second plates both having an elongated slot with a predetermined length and a rectangular shaped hole formed therein;
• a first layer of material having a low coefficient of friction relative to the first plate attached to the inner side of the first plate defining a first plate assembly;
• a second layer of material different than the material of the first layer and having a low coefficient of friction relative to the second plate attached to at least one of the sides of the second plate defining a second plate assembly;
• the first and second plates are formed from a material having a high coefficient of friction relative to the first and second layers;
• and
• means for interconnecting the first and second plate assemblies including a plurality of securing tabs having a predetermined length less than the predetermined length of the slot, the securing tabs integrally extending from the first plate assembly and extending through the slot and being hooked around the second plate assembly to establish a sliding relationship between the first layer of material and the second layer of material.