Spiral Wound gaskets have become extremely popular due to a wide variety of available styles and sizes. Spiral Wound gaskets can be fabricated of any metal which is available in thin strip and which can be welded; therefore they can be used against virtually any corrosive medium dependent upon the choice of the metal and filler. They can be used over the complete temperature range from cryogenic to approximately 2000ºF. This type gasket can be used in all pressures from vacuum to the standard 2500 psi flange ratings. They are more resilient than any other type of metallic gasket with the exception of pressure sealing metal gaskets and, as a consequence, can compensate for flange movement that may occur due to temperature gradients, variations of pressure and vibration. Spiral Wound gaskets can also be manufactured with variable densities, i.e. relatively low density gaskets for vacuum service up to extremely high density gaskets having a seating stress of approximately 30,000 psi. The softer gaskets would require a seating stress in the range of  5,000 psi.

Spiral Wound gaskets are manufactures by alternately winding strips of metal and soft fillers on the outer edge of winding mandrels that determine the inside dimensions of the wound component. In the winding process, the alternating plies are maintained under pressure. varying the pressure during the winding operation and/or the thickness of the soft filler, the density of the gasket can be controlled over a wide range. As a general rule, low winding pressure and thick soft fillers are used for low pressure applications. Thin fillers and high pressure loads are used for high pressure applications. This of course would account for the higher bolt loads that have to be applied to the gasket in high pressure applications. In addition to all these advantages of the Spiral Wound gasket, they are a relatively low cost. When special sizes are required, tooling costs are very nominal.