Flat gasket

The flat seal has a seal plate of two metal plate layers (22,24,26), and sealing element (50), which consists of a material applied to a first metal layer (26) and hardened in situ. The material is initially plastically deformable when machine components and flat seal are at operational temperature. Seal plate and sealing element are formed, so that the element extend to at most max. level when the flat seal is not fitted and not under pressure.