SoluGap Water Soluble Socket Weld Spacer Rings will not dissolve in oil or fuel. The products must be flushed with an aqueous solution or steam containing a certain amount of water in order to be removed from the weld area.

As metal pipes are heated and cooled, they expand and contract. Therefore, a minimum 1/16″ gap between the socket weld and the pipe is required to facilitate the fluctuation of the metal. Without this gap, cracking and loss of weld integrity can occur.

Typically, welders will spend time estimating the correct gap size, creating more room for error. With SoluGap, measuring and scribing are unnecessary. SoluGap is designed to create the perfect gap with ease by acting as a temporary space insert during welding that can later be flushed away by an aqueous solution.

Even with its firm structure, SoluGap is incompressible. For example, at 100 PSI compression load, SoluGap compresses by approximately 1 percent in thickness.

NOTE: This data was obtained through testing by the Aquasol engineering staff. The Aquasol Corporation recommends all users conduct their own tests, as this information is only a guideline for general reference purposes.

The heat temperature rating for SoluGap is approximately 400° F.  This temperature rating should be sufficient, if all welding guidelines are adhered to for socket welds.

To ensure SoluGap Water Soluble Socket Weld Spacer Rings remain uncharred while welding and successfully dissolve during hydro testing, be sure not to exceed the interpass temperature of 300° F while following the proper ASME B31.3 code welding procedure.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers provides companies with codes and standards, which cover a vast range of welding applications and processes. According to the ASME website, the organization has more than 130,000 members in 158 countries. Policy makers in Congress, the White House Office of Science and Technology and many key federal agencies look to the ASME for the latest engineering and technical information.

Aquasol^® designed SoluGap to meet the standards and codes of the ASME in regards to its dimensions and other properties.

For further information on ASME, visit https://www.asme.org/.

Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) are supported by items, including consumables like SoluGap Socket Weld Spacer Rings, that aid in the production process. MRO reports can show how many of these items are used by companies over a specific time period.

Some of the companies on the SoluGap MRO report include Chevron, Shell Oil, BP North America, Sunoco and many more.

When using SoluGap, no specific safety precautions are necessary. SoluGap is manufactured from CE and EPA-approved water soluble material that is completely environmentally friendly.

SoluGap is used in various industries where socket welding is required.

Some of these manufacturing areas include:

• Food Processing
• Pharmaceutical
• Nuclear and Aeronautical
• Nuclear and Power Plants
• Petrochemical Plants and Refineries
• Industrial Hydraulics
• Water Heaters and Boilers
• Railroad Air Brake Piping
• Shipbuilding
• Fertilizer Plants
• Breweries

Aquasol^® distributes its patented, revolutionary products to over 80 countries worldwide. Many large companies have successfully tested and approved SoluGap as spec items in welding operations. Some of these include, ExxonMobil, Shell, Saudi Aramco, Conoco Phillips, Bechtel, KBR, Hyundai, CCC, Chevron, Jacobs, Petrofac, and Tecnicas Reunidas.