General Metals (One-Word)

Customer wants maximum stem strength

17-4 PH SS: Heat treatment approximately doubles the strength of 304 stainless while retaining corrosion resistance close to 300-series stainless.

Engineer specifies a high-pressure butterfly valve stem

17-4 PH SS: Its high strength and corrosion resistance make it especially suitable for high-performance butterfly and ball valve stems.

Customer needs stainless stronger than 304

17-4 PH SS: Precipitation hardening gives it substantially greater strength than 304 stainless.

Customer wants standard stainless valve trim

304 SS: This common 18-8 stainless provides excellent general corrosion resistance and is widely used for valve trim.

Customer needs stainless for general water service

304 SS: It resists many corrosive substances and atmospheric exposure, making it suitable for general-purpose trim.

Engineer needs stainless that welds well

304 SS: Its low carbon content reduces intergranular corrosion associated with welding.

Customer has chloride or pitting concerns

316 SS: Added molybdenum provides better pitting and corrosion resistance than 304 stainless.

Customer wants premium corrosion-resistant stainless

316 SS: It provides excellent corrosion resistance and is commonly used for valve stems, bodies, and balls.

Customer needs stainless for elevated temperatures

316 SS: It offers better strength at elevated temperatures than 304 while retaining strong corrosion resistance.

Engineer wants a stainless valve body or ball

316 SS: Its corrosion resistance and ductility make it suitable for stems, bodies, and balls.

Customer needs a valve disc for liquid service

Aluminum Bronze: The manual identifies it as a widely accepted disc material because it combines high strength with corrosion resistance.

Customer wants a lead-free valve disc

Aluminum Bronze: It is lead free, heat treatable, and forms a protective aluminum-oxide layer.

Customer needs steel-like strength with corrosion resistance

Aluminum Bronze: It provides strength comparable to steel while its oxide layer protects against corrosion.

Customer wants a pressure-rated bronze valve

Bronze: Bronze is an established material for pressure-rated valves and fittings because it is strong, corrosion resistant, and easy to manufacture.

Customer needs a material that is easy to braze or solder

Bronze: It is readily joined by brazing or soldering and is also highly machinable.

Customer is concerned about pitting in bronze service

Bronze: The material has strong resistance to pitting corrosion.

Engineer needs an ANSI pressure-rated valve body

Carbon Steel: It can be cast or forged into pressure-temperature-rated valve bodies and provides excellent mechanical properties.

Customer needs strong structural valve components

Carbon Steel: Its toughness, fatigue strength, and mechanical strength make it suitable for bodies and structural parts.

Customer needs a valve body for temperatures up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit

Carbon Steel: It retains useful strength at both elevated and low temperatures.

Customer wants an economical cast valve body

Cast Iron: It provides excellent castability, machinability, vibration damping, and wear resistance at a relatively economical cost.

Customer needs a wear-resistant casting

Cast Iron: Its graphite structure contributes hardness, damping, and wear resistance.

Customer wants a waterworks valve body

Ductile Iron: Nodular graphite gives it substantially more strength, ductility, and impact resistance than cast iron.

Customer expects shock loading or water hammer

Ductile Iron: Its ductility allows it to deform and absorb shock before fracturing.

Customer needs a stronger alternative to cast iron

Ductile Iron: It offers greater strength, impact resistance, and ductility than conventional cast iron.