A seal and a gasket are two different mechanical components with different functions.
A mechanical seal is a mechanical seal used to prevent liquids or gases from escaping from a machine or device. It is usually placed on a rotating shaft or piston to prevent fluid leakage. The seal consists of a flexible lip that contacts the surface of the shaft or piston and seals it hermetically.
On the other hand, a gasket is a component used to join two or more parts of a machine or device. It is usually placed between two flat surfaces to seal them and prevent leakage of fluids or gases. Seals can be made of different materials, such as rubber, viton, rubber.
In summary, the main difference between a retainer and a gasket is that the retainer is a mechanical seal used to prevent leakage of fluids or gases on a shaft or piston, while the gasket is used to join two or more parts of a machine or device and prevent leakage of fluids or gases between them.