Gaskets

A gasket comprising:

• a support strip;
• and
• a sealing strip comprising a resilient material, the sealing strip having:
• a partially-wound configuration in which:
• at least a portion of the support strip is spirally wound to define a first plurality of coils,
• a portion of the sealing strip is spirally wound in such a manner that the spiral of the portion of the sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the first plurality of coils, and
• the moisture level of the sealing strip is 2–20% w/w of the sealing strip resilient material;
• and
• a fully-wound configuration in which:
• the entire support strip is spirally wound to define a second plurality of coils, and
• the entire sealing strip is spirally wound in such a manner that the spiral of the entire sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the second plurality of coils.

A gasket comprising:

• a sealing strip wound into a spiral, wherein the sealing strip is in the form of a single layer;
• and
• a support strip wound into a spiral in such a manner that the spiral of the sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the support strip, the spiral of the sealing strip contacting and extending uninterruptedly between the coils of the support strip;
• wherein the sealing strip comprises a resilient material, the resilient material comprising means for strengthening the sealing strip to prevent breakage of the sealing strip due to the spiral winding of the sealing strip;
• and
• wherein the strengthening means comprises a chemically exfoliated vermiculite (CEV) component in a proportion of at least 25% w/w of the sealing strip, the CEV component being at least partially derived from dry CEV.

A gasket comprising:

• a sealing strip wound into a spiral, wherein the sealing strip is in the form of a single layer;
• and
• a support strip wound into a spiral in such a manner that the spiral of the sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the support strip, the spiral of the sealing strip contacting and extending uninterruptedly between the coils of the support strip;
• wherein the sealing strip comprises a resilient material, the resilient material comprising means for strengthening the sealing strip to prevent breakage of the sealing strip due to the spiral winding of the sealing strip;
• and
• wherein the resilient material further comprises a hydrolysis resistant polymer to improve the water resistance of the sealing strip, the proportion of the polymer not exceeding 20% w/w of the sealing strip.

A gasket comprising:

• a support strip;
• and
• a sealing strip comprising a resilient material, the sealing strip having:
• a partially-wound configuration in which:
• at least a portion of the support strip is spirally wound to define a first plurality of coils,
• a portion of the sealing strip is spirally wound in such a manner that the spiral of the portion of the sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the first plurality of coils, and
• the resilient material comprises means for reducing the brittleness of the sealing strip;
• and
• a fully-wound configuration in which:
• the entire support strip is spirally wound to define a second plurality of coils, and
• the entire sealing strip is spirally wound in such a manner that the spiral of the entire sealing strip is formed interposed between the coils of the second plurality of coils;
• wherein the resilient material further comprises means for strengthening the sealing strip to prevent breakage of the sealing strip due to the spiral winding of the sealing strip;
• and
• wherein the strengthening means comprises a chemically exfoliated vermiculite (CEV) component in a proportion of at least 25% w/w of the sealing strip, the CEV component being at least partially derived from dry CEV.