Cemented carbide valve balls are spherical valve cores made primarily of high-hardness, wear-resistant materials such as tungsten carbide compounds. They are commonly used in the sealing and opening/closing components of ball valves. Their application in hydraulic valves is mainly in scenarios requiring the handling of environments containing sand, mud, particulate impurities, or high scour, such as water supply and drainage systems in water conservancy projects, irrigation pipelines, water treatment facilities, sewage treatment plants, and control valves related to hydropower generation.
The core advantage of cemented carbide valve balls lies in their extremely high hardness (typically HRC 70 or higher) and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Hydraulic media often contain silt, particulate matter, or corrosive substances. Ordinary metal valve balls are prone to rapid wear, leading to sealing failure and leakage. Cemented carbide valve balls, on the other hand, can significantly extend valve life and reduce maintenance frequency. In media containing solid particles, it exhibits strong shear force and low friction characteristics when mated with the valve seat, achieving reliable sealing while maintaining low torque operation for easy and rapid opening and closing.
Specifically, in hydraulic valves such as ball valves, check valves, or regulating valves, cemented carbide valve balls are often applied through integral manufacturing or surface spraying/welding processes. They are suitable for medium- and high-pressure environments, able to withstand high-speed water flow erosion and particle corrosion, and are particularly suitable for control systems in sewage, seawater desalination, industrial wastewater treatment, or water sources containing impurities. Compared to traditional soft seals or metal seals, cemented carbide valve balls perform more stably under severe wear conditions, preventing rapid sealing surface failure and ensuring long-term reliable valve operation.
While ceramic valve balls are more common in some pure water or low-wear hydraulic applications, cemented carbide valve balls occupy an important position in hydraulic applications with high wear resistance requirements. Especially when combined with supersonic spraying technology, they can further improve corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance, making them suitable for complex hydraulic conditions.
