How would it be if there were no blockage of water from your sink or harmful gas seeping out from a gas industry? Ever wondered, one day all you breathe is a mixture of toxic pollutants or the water that you always drink from your kitchen pipe is contaminated with nasty chemicals? Whether you may or may not, it is true that a single leakage from a piping system or an unfit connection of the gas line will completely disrupt the normal balancing of life. Valves are the little-known heroes which protects this world from such industrial hazards. They silently regulate the flow!
How exactly a single valve protects from such deadly incidents. Its not a big math but a wonderful world of material science. Like valves for industries, materials for valves are crucial. It is the base where the safety begins and impact the whole performances.
Main enemy of Industries
Nature of fluids for each and every industry varies, having any unique properties. Like
- Corrosive chemicals: acids or alkalis an destroy the materials if they are not resistant to it, that will lead to leakage and safety hazards.
- Abrasive materials: slurries like sand, gravels, or any other hard abrasive substances will wear down the system, which will reduce the sealing capacity of the valve.
- Extreme temperature and pressure configurations: it can weaken the valve materials thereby deforming the shape, structure leading to dangerous events.
- Contamination: its important to protect the valves from certain types of leaching caused by chemicals, toxins or pollutants which will contaminate the whole fluid passing through it. Valves should be made from materials that wont react with the fluid causing leaching.
All these characters will be dealt with one single thing – Valve material. It is important to consider the materials used for valves based on the industry, fluid, temperature, pressure and so on. Let’s check some of the main materials that is best suitable for industrial purposes.
Knowing the Base
Every material will have its own unique properties including strength and weakness, making it suitable for specific applications. Lets get into the various kinds of materials commonly used for Industrial valve manufacturing.
- Stainless steel: as we are more familiar with this material, commonly used in household appliances, it has super properties like corrosion resistance, high tensile strength, temperature resistance etc. so it is a convenient choice for wide varieties of applications like Food processing, chemical plants, marine environments etc. types of stainless steel used are: 304, 316, Duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel etc.
- Cast iron: a conventional dynamo. It is an affordable material and has robustness, low melting point, resistance to oxidation, deformation and corrosion. It can withstand high temperature and pressure. This is suitable for water pipelines, steam lines, air handling systems etc.
- Carbon steel: cost effective option. This material is highly versatile, having good mechanical properties. It is stress resistant, strong and wear resistant. Low thermal conductivity and expansion coefficient are other notable features of it. It is mainly used for oil and gas industries, water treatment plants, petrochemical industries etc. not suitable for corrosive elements.
- Brass: it is an alloy comprised of multiple metals, mainly used in areas of structural damages, and places where it requires thermal conductivity. It is highly durable, and has excellent sealing capacity. Water treatment plants, chemical industries, commercial plumbing, irrigation systems, fire protection systems etc. uses Brass materials for Valves.
- Bronze: it is a copper-based alloy. Corrosion resistance, durability and low friction properties constitute bronze valves. They are good for marine water applications due to its resistance to seawater corrosion and biological fouling. Suitable for HVAC systems, marine industries and petrochemical industries
- Plastics (PVC & CPVC): polyvinyl chloride offers flexibility, durability, smooth surfaces, nontoxic properties etc. While chlorinated PVC (CPVC), has good temperature resistance, superior density and widely used in hot water distributions. Mainly used for water related systems and irrigation treatments.
- Nickel-based alloys: strong and high resistance properties. Used mainly for nuclear power plants and high-pressure offshore oil rigs.
Pick your priority
While selecting the valve materials it requires a lot of fact check and consideration. Why confused, UAE valves helps you choose the best industrial valves with its labelled instruction of materials used and its industrial applications mentioned. Following factors can be considered while selecting the valve materials:
- Fluid: be sure of what kind of fluid you use and its considerable properties like corrosiveness, temperature, pressure, whether the substance is abrasive or not, does it contain salt content or other biological materials etc.
- Â Application: detailed structure of the industrial use is important. Specifications, environment, possible contamination that can occur, functions, regulatory requirements etc. plays a crucial role while selecting the materials for specific valves.
- Cost: checking the initial cost to balance the charges would be an economical factor to choose industrial valve materials.
- Performance: expected lifespan check also has a good role. Knowing the duration of its functioning, regulatory and non-regulatory maintenance required etc., initiates the choice for industrial materials.
Knowing the qualities, properties and capabilities of the various materials will help you to choose the right materials for industrial valves conveniently and effectively. To know more of industrial valves and its materials, check UAE valves and find out more options to choose.
