8/5/2020 Valve Material Chemical Compatibility Lookup – Flowstar (UK) Limited

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Valve Material Chemical Compatibility Lookup

Medium:

Select a medium above and the corresponding chemical compatibility tables will be shown
for the valve materials listed below

This material chemical compatibility lookup is particularly useful because it is important that the valve
you select is made from materials that are compatible with the medium being used and remains
compatible over the full temperature range that it will operate. Some materials you will see quite
commonly in valve descriptions (brass, bronze, cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, EPDM, Viton,
Nitrile) and others you will only come across when the medium is particularly corrosive or the valve is
operating at high or low temperatures.

MATERIALS USED IN VALVE CONSTRUCTION

Any temperatures or pressures quoted are a guide and may change between the exact grade and
manuafcturer.

METALS
Metals are predominantly used to manufacture the main valve components such as the body, bonnet,
stem, ball, springs etc.

Brass: Generally good corrosion resistance. Susceptible to de-zincification in specific applications;

excellent machinability. Primary uses for wrought brass are for ball valve stems and balls, and iron
valve stems. A forging grade of brass is used in commercial ball valve bodies and end pieces.

Bronze: is one of the first copper alloys developed in the bronze age and is generally accepted as the
industry standard for pressure-rated bronze valves and fittings. Bronze has a higher strength than
pure copper, is easily cast, has improved machinability, and is very easily joined by soldering or
brazing. Bronze is very resistant to pitting corrosion, with general resistance to most chemicals less
than that of pure copper. Historically, bronze alloys have contained lead to improve machinability and
leak tightness, but recently are being improved with the release of lead-free alloys for drinking water
applications.

Ductile Iron / Cast Iron: has a chemical composition similar to gray iron, but special treatment
during the casting process enhances its metallurgical graphite structure to yield higher mechanical
properties and improved ductility similar to steel. It is a standard material for bodies and bonnets of
ANSI Class 150 and 300 valves.

Carbon Steel: has very good mechanical properties, good resistance to stress corrosion and sulfides.
Carbon steel has high and low temperature strength, is very tough, and has excellent fatigue
strength. Steel can be easily cast or welded in making ANSI Pressure-Temperature rated valve bodies
or structural parts for applications up to 850 degrees F.

304SS: 304 SS is basic 18% chromium, 8% nickel austenitic stainless steel commonly used for valve
trim Its 0 08% max carbon content reduces intergranular corrosion usually associated with carbide

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trim. Its 0.08% max carbon content reduces intergranular corrosion usually associated with carbide
precipitation that can occur during welding. It offers excellent resistance to a wide range of corrosives
and atmospheric exposures.

316 / 316Ti / 321: 316 SS is chemically similar to 304 SS except with the addition of molybdenum
providing better corrosion and pitting resistance and higher strength at elevated temperatures. It is
non-magnetic with greater ductility than 400SS. 316SS has excellent corrosion resistance in a wide
range of environments, is not susceptible to stress corrosion cracking, and is not affected by heat
treatment. Most common uses in valves are stem, body and ball materials.

17-4PH: is similar to 304 SS except it is capable of being heat treated, doubling its strength and
making it a good choice for high performance valve trim. 17-4 PH withstands corrosive attack better
than any of the 400 series stainless steels and in most conditions its corrosion resistance closely
approaches that of 300 series stainless steel. 17-4 PH is primarily used as a stem material for high
pressure butterfly and ball valves. It is also used as a metal disk material in Safety valves.

Aluminium: A non-ferrous metal, very lightweight, approximately one-third the weight of steel.
Aluminum exhibits excellent atmospheric corrosion resistance, but can be very reactive with other
metals. In valves, aluminum is mainly used as for exterior components such as a hand wheels or
identification tags.

Aluminium Bronze: Aluminum Bronze is the most widely accepted disc material used in many valves
for liquid service. Aluminum bronze is heat treatable and has the strength of steel. Formation of an
aluminum oxide layer on exposed surfaces makes this metal very corrosion resistant. Is often used
when the the medium is seawater.

Alloy 20: This alloy has higher amounts of nickel and chromium than 300 series stainless steel and
with the addition of columbium, this alloy retards stress corrosion cracking and has improved
resistance to sulfuric acid. Alloy 20 is widely used in all phases of chemical processing.

Duplex: Higher strength and greater corrosion resistance than standard stainless steels.

Inconel: is nickel-copper-molybdenum alloy with excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of

corrosive media and is especially resistant to pitting and crevice corrosion. Like Monel, it is a favorable
choice for seawater applications but with far greater strength. Sometimes used as a spring material in
Safety Valves.

Hastelloy: A high nickel-chromium molybdenum alloy, which has outstanding resistance to a wide
variety of chemical process environments including strong oxidisers such as wet chlorine, chlorine gas,
and ferric chloride. Hastelloy C is also resistant to nitric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acids at moderate
temperatures.

Titanium: Titanium alloys are metals that contain a mixture of titanium and other chemical elements.
Such alloys have very high tensile strength and toughness (even at extreme temperatures). They are
light in weight, have extraordinary corrosion resistance and the ability to withstand extreme
temperatures.

ELASTOMERS
The following materials are used in the manufacture of items such as diaphragms and o-ring seals.

Buna N / Nitrile / NBR: (Copolymer of Butadiene and Acrylonitrile) has excellent resistance to
petroleum products, lubricants, and water over a wide temperature range of -50 to 200 deg F. Nitrile
is a widely used elastomer for hydraulic system o-rings. Buna-N does not have good resistance to
outdoor exposure to ozone, sunlight, or weather.

EPDM / EPR: (Ethylene Propylene Diene) exhibits strong resistance to ozone, certain hydraulic fluids,
brake fluids, steam, and water over a wide temperature range of -50 to 250 deg F. EPDM has gained
increased use in the municipal water industry because of its resistance to water disinfected with

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increased use in the municipal water industry because of its resistance to water disinfected with
chloramines. It has poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids, mineral oils, and solvents.

Flexible Graphite: Flexible Graphite products are ideal for sealing those difficult high temperature
applications, chemical applications, and low bolt load applications.

Kalrez: DuPoint Kalrez delivers outstanding performance in aggressive process environments.

Withstands attack from more than 1,800 chemicals, solvents and plasmas.

Viton: (Fluorocarbon, FKM) possesses a strong resistance to chemicals and air at high temperature
applications to 400 deg F. Viton is high in cost and is used in aircraft, automotive applications where
resistance to petroleum oils, silicone fluids, and acids is needed. Viton also has superior chloramine
resistance for drinking water applications.

POLYMERS
The following are engineering plastics with specific properties, making them useful in the manufacture
of valve components such as ball seat rings in ball valves or in the construction of the disk in a Safety
valve. Many of the product names are trade names from the various different manufacturers.

Delrin: DuPont Delrin acetal homopolymer resin is a highly-crystalline polymer that has high stiffness
and strength without the need for glass reinforcement. When compared to acetal copolymers offered
by competitors, Delrin offers higher tensile strength, stiffness, and creep resistance, and significantly
outperforms on impact resistance, allowing for thinner and lighter part design. In addition, Delrin
offers outstanding low- and high-temperature performance, good colorability, and good mating with
metal and other polymers.

PEEK: is a strong and stiff plastic material that is often used in applications where performance at
elevated temperatures is required. PEEK has outstanding chemical resistance as well as resistance to
steam and hot water.

PVDF: PVDF is a specialty plastic material in the fluoropolymer family; it is used generally in
applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases and heat
and low smoke generation during a fire event.

Teflon: non stick coatings

PCTFE: Nonflammability, chemical resistance, near-zero moisture absorption and wide temperature
range of -400 to 400 deg F. Sometimes referred to as Kel-F (a discontinued product from 3M).

UHMWPE: Highest impact strength of any thermoplastic.

Vespel: DuPoint Vespel parts and shapes provide high-performance solutions for the toughest
sealing, wear, or friction challenges.

PFA: Often used as a coating in valves when used with agressive chemicals.

KEL-F: A trade name for PCTFE.

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