Views: 15 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-09-12 Origin: Site
When it comes to selecting a ball valve, buyers often focus on size, pressure rating, or connection type. But one of the most important factors is often overlooked: the body material. The choice of material directly affects a valve's durability, corrosion resistance, and suitability for different working conditions. This guide explains the main ball valve materials - stainless steel, carbon steel, duplex steel, and alloy steel - and gives practical tips to help you choose the right one.
· Excellent corrosion resistance, strong and reliable.
· Works with a wide range of media: water, oil, gas, steam, and chemicals.
✅ Food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical plants, seawater systems.
✅ SS316 and SS316L are especially suited for chloride-rich or acidic environments.
★★ Stainless steel ball valves are the most commonly used worldwide due to their versatility.
·High strength and toughness.
·More cost-effective than stainless steel.
·Ideal for medium to high pressure.
✅ Oil & gas, petrochemical, and power generation industries.
✅ Suitable for high-temperature pipelines, provided the medium is non-corrosive.
★★ Choose carbon steel when pressure is high but corrosion is not a big issue.
·Duplex stainless steel: Combines strength of carbon steel and corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
·Alloy steel: Designed for extreme high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
✅ Offshore, marine, and chemical industries (duplex).
✅ Steam pipelines and power plants (alloy steel).
★★ These are not everyday choices, but when conditions are demanding, they are the safe bet.
Brass and bronze valves are widely used in plumbing and HVAC. However, their role in industrial applications is limited compared with stainless and carbon steel.
Material | Corrosion Resistance | Typical Applications |
Stainless Steel (304/316/316L) | ★★★★☆ | Water, oil, gas, steam, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, light chemicals, seawater |
Carbon Steel (WCB, A105) | ★★☆☆☆ | Oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, high-pressure non-corrosive media |
Duplex Stainless Steel | ★★★★★ | Offshore, marine, seawater desalination, chemical plants |
Alloy Steel | ★★★☆☆ | Steam pipelines, power plants, high-temperature industrial systems |
Brass / Bronze | ★★☆☆☆ | Plumbing, HVAC, small water systems (limited industrial use) |
The best ball valve material is the one that fits your medium, pressure, and industry needs.
At SLVCN, we manufacture stainless steel, carbon steel, duplex, and alloy steel ball valves, certified by ISO, CE, and TUV. Backed by global supply and fast delivery, our valves are trusted for safe and durable performance across industries.