Abstract: One or more packing systems and/or methods of manufacture are disclosed for a valve seal with lowered emissions while being complaint with fire standards. The packing system may have alternating mid-layers, a top layer, a bottom layer, and a first end cap and a second end cap. The layers can be formed of a flexible graphite-based material and/or a metal and/or non-fluoropolymer material. The layers may be bonded together and expand under compression to form a seal between a valve stem and a stuffing box.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the thickness of a flexible expanded graphite sheet is provided that includes the steps of providing a a flexible expanded graphite sheet having a surface adhered to a substrate, pulling apart the sheet and the substrate with a force sufficient to separate the adhered flexible expanded graphite sheet into a removed layer and a remainder layer adhered to the substrate; and optionally repeating the foregoing steps until the remainder layer has a desired thickness.

Abstract: An ultra-thin flexible expanded graphite heating high resistance element is produced by a method including the steps of providing a flexible expanded graphite sheet having a surface adhered to a substrate; pulling apart the sheet and the substrate with a force sufficient to separate the adhered flexible expanded graphite sheet into a removed layer and a remainder layer adhered to the substrate; and optionally repeating the foregoing steps until the remainder layer has a thickness of about 0.01 mils to about 2 mils. A resistance heater for high voltage applications is also provided.