New universal sealing disc for sliding gate valves

Schubert & Salzer Control Systems have newly developed a universal sealing disc for sliding gate valves. Two sliding discs slide against each other at the heart of the valve in order to form a seal. One sealing disc is permanently fixed in the valve body and the other is movable.

The selection of the ideal material pairing for these sealing discs depends on a number of factors:

• Friction coefficient, which has a direct effect on the level of the force needed to actuate the valve.
• Leakage rate.
• Chemical resistance.
• Suitability for high differential pressures.
• Edge stability.
• Operation in cavitation.
• Desired service life and replacement costs.

The conventional materials for the movable sealing disc based on carbon or stainless steel with a hard alloy based on cobalt and chromium (Stellite®) are now supplemented by a diamond like coating known as slide friction coating (SFC).

The SFC is applied to a stainless steel dealing disc and brings together the stability of the stainless steel base body, the very low friction coefficient of the carbon and the extreme robustness of the diamond like coating layer. Hence, movable sealing discs coated with SFC can withstand high differential pressures while actuation forces for the moving seal discs remain very low. This makes it possible to have smaller, more cost-effective actuators.

The SFC additionally forms an enveloping hard layer around the base material, protecting it from chemical and mechanical attacks by the medium or contaminants. Sealing disks with an SFC coating can be used for media temperatures from -60 °C to +300 °C.

Adapted from a press release by Emma McAleavey.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/product-news/15042014/new_valve_sealing_disc_37/