Silicone rubber gasket with perforated metal core and method

A method of making a gasket for a non-combustion engine application comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a metallic core having a generally planar body defining two planar sides, each side having tangs that extend generally orthogonally therefrom and limit the amount of permissible compression of the silicone rubber layers, thereby acting as compression load stop limiters;
• b) silk-screening a pre-cured silicone rubber paste material to both planar sides of said core to form a work in process;
• and
• c) oven curing said work in process at approximately ten minutes under a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit to form cured silicone rubber layers on said metallic core.

A valve cover gasket adapted for sealing between two mated surfaces, said valve cover gasket comprising:

• a perforated steel core defining two substantially planar sides;
• a plurality of rounded, non-barbed tangs including a compression peak extending generally orthogonally from opposing planar sides of the perforated steel core;
• a silk-screened silicon foam rubber coating applied in a first thickness to the opposing planar sides to define separate foam rubber layers sandwiching said perforated steel core therebetween, wherein said tangs are compression load stop limiters that limit the amount of permissible compression of the silicon foam rubber layer between said mated planar surfaces to be sealed;
• and wherein said tangs will not become flattened under normal compression loads of sealing between said mated planar surfaces.