Valve Technology

Our Process

Raw Material Machining RAM ® Coating

Final Product Lapped Ball & Seat Lapping

Testing
 80 “Rocket Applied Metallic”
70
RAM
60
Rockwell C Hardness

50

40

30
STELLITE Alloy No. 6

20

10

0
0 ºF 500 ºF 1,000 ºF 1,500 ºF
 RAM™ HVOF Process
• Rocket Applied Metallic is a “High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel” (HVOF) coating process, with properties of high
density and negligible porosity

• A hot, high velocity gas jet sprays a coating of molten particles onto the Ball and Seat surfaces
– The oxygen-fuel is a mixture of propylene, propane, or hydrogen gasses
– The gas is forced through a spray gun nozzle and ignited
– A mixture of powdered materials (tungsten, carbide, nickel, chromium, etc) are also forced through the
spray gun nozzle
– The ignited gas forms a circular flame surrounding the powder as it flows from the nozzle for uniform
heating, melting and acceleration (5000 – 6000º F at >7000 fps)
– The oxygen-fuel and air values are specified for each material mixture to optimize powder ‘dwell time’
in the flame

• HVOF hard-coating is excellent for extreme corrosion and wear resistance in many applications and
industries
A Single Powder
‘splat’

Magnification: 2000X
Scale: 1 Inch = 0.0004”
 Vickers Diamond Hardness Indention in RAM 10
• Hardness comes from the Chromium Carbide particles suspended in a Nichrome binder
• The applied binder matrix is not a uniform brittle metal
• It is not prone to cracking and able to self-repair

RAM – Able to Handle Thermal

Shock Without Cracking

Magnification: 2000X Scale: 1 inch = 0.0004 inch

HVHF Asphalt Analogy
 B.A.I.T. Mate-Lapped Ball and Integral Seat

Perfect Area Contact Seal

RAM™ HVOF Process
 Metal Seat Ball Valve Design Concerns

• One Piece Body

• Non-Integral Seat Rings

• Pinned Stem – Blow-Out Hazard

• Loose Internal Parts, “Floating” Ball

• Internal Retaining Ring

One Piece Ball Valve Design
Review