UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

Morong, Rizal
College of Engineering

Material Science and Engineering

(ME 8)

Group Task
ANALYSIS OF MOST SUITABLE ENGINEERING MATERIAL TO BALL VALVE FOR
FAUCET APPLICATION

Junrey Padrogado
Adrian James Bangayan
Michael De Guzman
Clarizz Joy Conui
Leonito Fulgado Jr.

Date Submitted
4/4/2021

______________________
Engr. Lean Jo B. Anievas
Instructor

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 TABLE OF CONTENS
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………………………... i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………… ii
LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………………........... ii
LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………… ii

Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview ……………………………………………………. ……………. 1
Objectives ……………………………………………………………….... 2
Statement of the Problem …………………………………………......... 2
Faucet and Ball valve………………………………………………......... 3
Engineering Material…………………………………………………....... 4
Metal Material …………………………………………………... 4
Ceramic Material…................................................................ 6
Composite Material ……………………………………………. 9
2. INTERPRETATION OF DATA AND CONCLUSIONS
Data interpretation ……………………………………………………….. 13
Findings and Recommendations……………………………………….. 18
Conclusion of the Authors ……………………………………………….. 19

References ……………………………………………………………….. 21

LIST OF FIGURES
1 Ball Valve ……………………………………………………………… 3
2 Stainless Steel Ball Valve ………………………………………………. 4
3 Silicon Nitride Ball Valve…………………………………………………….. 6
4 Complete system of silicon nitride ball valve proposed application…….. 6
5 Vinyl Ester – Glass Reinforced……………………………………….. 9
6 Layers of Composition of Vinyl-Ester and Fiber Glass………………….. 10
LIST OF TABLES
1 Properties……………………………………………………………….. 13
2 Thermal Limit…………………………………………………………… 13
3 Pressure Limit………………………………………………………….. 14
4 Young’s Modulus………………………………………………………. 15
5 Density………………………………………………………………….. 16
6 Cost……………………………………………………………………… 16

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 Chapter 1
Introduction
Development of different materials has improved so far all over the years.
Considering that the history has the biggest impact on why there are different
materials to be used. Scientist and Engineers are developing and improve things out
of different materials to create new one, which leads to open the door for new
technologies. Material scientists and Engineers collide to be at the forefront of all
these and for some areas of science too. They are the one who study, analyze and
evaluate materials specifically its composition or properties in order to create and
innovate more materials which are useful in people’s daily lives.
Engineering materials are well used in different area. Even when you’re at
home, you can identify what are the engineering materials that you are using.
Surprisingly, because of the advancement of the technology, what you are using
right now in reading this is also an engineering material. For better understanding,
engineering materials are classified into four based on its properties, which are;
metal ceramics, polymers and composite. Therefore, you can easily determine what
type of material you are using right now through these classifications.
In engineering field, choosing the right materials to be used is one of the
engineers’ roles. The applications of the different classifications of engineering
materials differ on what are its’ properties and structures. For an instance, if you
want to build strong and durable roof trusses, then you should choose the materials
that are made of metals. However, for roof trusses you can also use composite
materials such as wood or lumber but when you want to secure durability and
strength of your roof then go for metal materials. It only shows that different materials
are made for its’ different purpose.
Furthermore, there are materials that are made out of different engineering
materials, for example; a gear is an engineering material which is used to transfer
motion and torque between machine components in mechanical devices. Normally,
you are only familiar to metal gear, but there are now gears that are made up of
ceramic and polymer materials. They are made to provide same purposes and
functions with metal gears but in different certain area. Also, they are developed to
determine what is the best material needed to maximize the gear’s efficiency.
With that, in this research the students tackled a product made up of different
engineering materials, to be used in one application. This will give you the
advantages and disadvantages of the different materials and came over to the
conclusion of what is the best material to be used in that particular application.

Overview
In this study, the researchers discussed and explained the valves, and the
efficiency of ball valves in faucet using different engineering materials, which is
metal, ceramics and composite. Specifically, the materials are Steel, Silicon Nitride
and Vinyl-Ester Reinforced Glass Fiber. Valves are used to stop and control water

1
flow, and each type of valve has its advantages and disadvantages and applications
for which it is best suited. The majorities of valves are part of the water supply
system in a residential plumbing system and are used to control the flow of
pressurized water from the water utility or a private well. It can be used in the
kitchen, powder or bathroom faucet that is why it is good to know the important of
knowing which valve is best for you household.
There are different kinds of valve and it is also made with different materials.
Valves can be made of brass, ceramics, or composite material because we have
various flow control systems, each of which has its own set of circumstances, such
as flow having a different pressure, temperature, or being corrosive, so we must
select the appropriate material in order for the system to function safely. Each of
them has distinct characteristics that made them capable of this kind of application.

Objectives:
 The research is aiming to discuss the three appropriate engineering
materials for ball valve to be utilized in faucet application which are the
following: Steel, Silicon Nitride and Vinyl-Ester Fiber Glass.
 To accurately and properly present the characteristics and properties of
the three chosen materials.
 Aim to differentiate the characteristics of the three chosen material and
be able to determine the best material for the ball valve in faucet
application.

Statement of the Problem:

In the analysis of ball valve, researchers aim to determine the best material
among the Steel, Silicon Nitride and Vinyl-Ester Fiber Glass for faucet, through the
systematic graphical presentation and comparison of the characteristics of the
materials.

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Faucet and Ball valve
A ball valve is a quarter turn shut-off valve that controls the flow of fluids by a
rotary ball. The spherical rotary ball consists of a straight bore through it. The pipe is
in the open position when the bore is aligned in the same direction as the flow,
allowing the fluid to pass through it. When the bore is rotated 90 degree from the
flow path, the valve is closed, and the flow is blocked. Ball valves are used in
residential and commercial application for its reliable sealing properties and long
service life. The image below is an example of a sectional view of a ball valve.

Fig. 1: Ball Valve

In addition, ball valve is highly adaptable and can be used in a number of

industrial environments. They can withstand high temperatures and pressures and
have a longer service life than other valves at a lower cost. Ball valves, on the other
hand, are not widely used as control valves because of their less precise flow
control. They can be used in applications where precise flow control precision is not
needed.
Basically, you are all familiar in the concept of ball valve. The most common
application of this is the faucet. When you are using the faucet, you are turning it by
just moving the lever in the desire degree. Like stated above, you can move the
turning level within 90 degrees in order to maximize its’ capability. Moreover, you can
turn it on in different degree as long as it will not exceed to its limit. The main
function of the ball valve in the faucet is to control the volume flow of the fluid. Due to
its simple working principle, ball valve is commonly harness in domestic, like
household, restaurants, hotels, public bathrooms and so on. You can also see it in
industrial plants, marine ships, factories etc.
In connection to this, this research examined and evaluated the different
engineering materials that can be used in designing and forming ball valve which
worthy for the faucet applications. Regarding to this, you will understand how
properties and characteristics of the materials will affect the operation of ball valve.
The applications of ball valve will define what engineering materials are applicable to
it.

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Engineering materials of Ball valve
To analyze and evaluate the best material to be applied in the forming of ball
valve, here are the three materials namely: Stainless steel (metal), Silicon Nitride
(ceramic) and Vinyl Ester – Glass reinforced (composite).

Metal material

Stainless Steel

Fig. 2: Stainless Steel Ball Valve

One of the most popular types of valve material is made of stainless steel. As
we all know stainless steel is a durable and affordable kind of metal and it is use for
a wide range of purposes. When it comes to pressure resistance and temperature
tolerance, it surpasses cast iron, ductile iron, brass, and copper. On many levels,
stainless steel competes with carbon steel, but it exceeds it in terms of corrosion
resistance by a wide margin. The fact that stainless steel is a very hard metal is one
of the biggest benefits of using stainless steel valves over other types of metal
valves. A valve that is made of stainless steel is durable and difficult to damage.
Also, because of characteristic of stainless-steel ball valve, it can handle high level of
pressure. It also ensures that the valve does not leak. Stainless steel ball valves are
well-known for being strong and leak resistant.
In addition, the development of corrosion in a moist environment is one of the
disadvantages of metal. Fortunately, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, which
means that it is very unlikely to do so, although stainless steel can corrode but it will
resist corrosion longer than other type of valve materials. Also, stainless steel valves
can be used for a wide range of working temperatures, meaning you can use
stainless steel valves for operations that depend on temperatures that are very hot or
very cold. Stainless steel can withstand a wide range of working temperatures,
making it a working material that is more versatile than brass or plastic.

Durability
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 Stainless steel ball valve has a thermal limit range from negative 29°C to
186°C and it can withstand the harshest chemical conditions and especially
recommended for use in marine environments due to their resistance to saltwater
corrosion. In terms of pressure limit, the maximum capacity of stainless-steel ball
valve is 1000 psig. It is easier to say that stainless steel valve is one of the
recommended and most used types of material valve because you can assure that
you can use it for a long period of time. The lifespan of stainless-steel ball valve is
not specifically given but most of the company says that it has a long service lifespan
because of the characteristics of stainless steel. It can endure harsh temperature,
high pressure, and exposure to various chemicals. Also, Stainless steel ball valves
are commonly used in petrochemical, steel, agricultural, and food processing
industries. It also common in fuel lines, chemical lines, washdowns, and plant
plumbing that needs to be completely shut off.
Performance
When talking about the performance of stainless-steel ball valve, it can ensure
that it is high quality. The density of stainless-steel grade 316 which is usually use for
ball valves is 7.98 g/cm3 while the young’s modulus is 190 GPa. The flow passage is
opened or closed by rotating the ball 90 degrees with the lockable hand lever. Higher
flows with less pressure drop, straight through flow path, and wider media
compatibility are some of the benefits of ball valves over other types of valves.
Cost
Material cost of stainless steel varies in different country but the lowest price
is 3.72 USD or 180.66 PHP per kilogram. It also lows in maintenance because of its
durability, long life and have consistent operation.
Conclusion
Stainless steel is recommended material for ball valves for a different reason.
Stainless steel ball valves will withstand harsher water conditions. This will result in a
valve that lasts longer. Consider that if you want your system to be more corrosion
resistant, you should use a full stainless system. Also, it is completely recyclable. In
fact, half of all stainless-steel production is from scrap metal. As a result, it is a
relatively eco-friendly material that is widely available around the world.
When it comes to the application of stainless-steel ball valves in faucet
applications, it ensures that it will last for a long time. Brass corrodes more quickly
than stainless steel. Considering materials is particularly important to remember
when dealing with taps. Corrosion can be a major issue with faucets because they
are designed to open and close. If there is too much corrosion, the ball valve may
break or become clogged. Harder water types are more resistant to stainless steel
ball valves and this will make the faucet last longer.

Ceramic Material

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Silicon Nitride

Silicon nitride is a man-made compound that is synthesized by a number of

different chemical reaction methods. To manufacture a ceramic with a special range
of outstanding properties, parts are pressed and sintered using well-developed
methods.
The material is dark gray to black in color and can be polished to a very
smooth reflective finish, giving a striking look to the pieces. High-performance silicon
nitride materials have been developed and proved to be useful for automobile engine
wear components, such as valves and cam followers.
The cost of ceramic components has never been reduced enough to make
ceramics workable in engines and turbochargers. The extremely high-quality bodies
designed for these challenging high reliability applications are available today and
can be used in many serious mechanical, thermal and wear applications. Silicon
nitride (Si3N4) is a type of advanced ceramic with high strength, durability, and
hardness, as well as excellent chemical and thermal shock resistance.
A ball valve that is made up of silicon nitride is less likely to have leaks since
the processing of the material requires high precision and the smooth surface of the
silicon nitride is a good sealing property for the application. The ball valve would
have longer operation life span than steel because of its strength and resistance to
abrasions.

Fig. 3: Silicon Nitride Ball Valve

Fig. 4: Complete system of silicon nitride ball valve proposed application

Durability
Thermal limit or maximum working temperature (Silicon Nitride) : 800C

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 Lifespan: Silicon nitride has high strength, fracture toughness, and resistance
to corrosive and erosive fluids. These properties contribute to longer component life
cycles, even in harsh environments. According to YFL, silicon nitride ball valves have
much longer service life and much less maintenance cost than steel ball valves.
Chemical compatibility: Silicon nitride is chemically inert; it would never react
chemically to the impurities or other chemicals present in the fluid.
The silicon nitride material will start to melt at a relatively high temperature,
2388C to be precise. This is a good material property for a high temperature fluid
environment as ball valves are exposed in contact with the flowing fluid all the time.
The melting point is high but the maximum working temperature is just around 800C,
the maximum working temperature is the temperature in which the silicon nitride can
be used for prolonged periods without damaging it. Another thing in consideration for
the maximum working temperature is the coefficient of thermal expansion, if the
difference from the calibrated temperature is too high, the size would expand too be
too large and might damage the system. The coefficient of thermal expansion of
silicon nitride is 1.4 x 10^(-6) per change in temperature in Celsius or Kelvin. The
silicon nitride ball valve has no minimum working temperature; it simply means that it
can operate at such low temperatures, even freezing temperatures like 0C.
The lifespan of the silicon nitride technically depends on the conditions of the
environment and the number of particles in the fluid. The high Vickers Pyramid Value
of the silicon nitride (1400 ~ 1600 HV), the fracture toughness (6.5 MPa- m (1 /2)),
compression strength of 4000 MPa, elastic modulus of 315 GPa, and its alloying
elements such as Aluminum (Al) 2.0~3.5%, Yttrium (Y) 4.0~5.0%, Titanium (Ti)
1.0~1.5%, Oxygen (O) 4.5~6.0%, Carbon (C) 0.3~0.8% all contributes to longer
component life cycles and would require less maintenance.
Performance
Maximum operating pressure: 6000psig
Young’s modulus of elasticity: 315GPa
Sealing and flow control precision: ball valves work on the principle of rotating
the ball to an angle and the maximum angle of turn is 90 degrees. The flow can be
controlled accurately since the silicon nitride ball valve has high machining precision.
The basic operation of a ball valve is to rotate it to let the fluid flow through the
valve system. Overtime, material components of a ball valve are essentially grinded
because of repetitive sliding when it is being turned when in operation. For a silicon
nitride ball valve, a silicon nitride sleeve is required to allow smooth surface contact
and uniformity in the expansion and contraction with respect to the change in
temperature. The silicon nitride ball valve has a very smooth surface, it is a good
sealing property for ball valves and since the silicon nitride ball valve is corrosive and
abrasive resistant, AZOM rated the wear resistance of the material the highest
possible rating it could get. It is also the high wear resistance of the material that
made it suitable as a cutting tool and abrasive tool for some other applications.

7
 The maximum pressure that a silicon nitride ball valve system can withstand
without leaking is 6000psig. Because silicon nitride can withstand such high
pressures, it is commonly used in high-pressure fluid systems, especially in water
and oil lines on a large scale. The silicon nitride ball valve can outperform steel ball
valves both in terms of maximum operating pressure and the material overall
strength.
Cost:
Material Cost:
The cost of the raw material or the silicon nitride powder ranges from $8.6 to
$27 depending on the region.
Manufacturing Cost:
The cost of manufacturing silicon nitride is relatively high since the material is
a kind of advanced ceramics. The actual manufacturing cost is unknown since there
are only a few companies that produce this type of ceramics.
Maintenance Cost:
The silicon nitride ball valve requires very little maintenance or not at all
according to FOYO and according to YFL, the silicon nitride ball valves require much
less maintenance cost than steel ball valves.
The overall cost of silicon nitride ball valves varies as there are only a few
numbers of companies that manufacture and process it. The cost of $8.6 to $27 per
kg of powdered silicon nitride is reasonable because of the rareness of the material.
(Kamiya et al., 2002) investigated the possibility of recycling of silicon nitride with
sintering aids and found promising results. The raw material for the research of Luo
et al., 2020 was waste silicon powder produced during the production of solar-grade
polysilicon scrap, and silicon nitride (Si3N4) was prepared directly and efficiently
using microwave heating nitridation. These studies present a better future for the
reduction of cost of production of silicon nitride.
Conclusion:
Silicon Nitride is a material that is highly strong and wear resistant, to the
point where it was initially used in high-end grinding tools and abrasives for the
production of other materials. It is a preferred substrate in many aerospace
applications because, in addition to its mechanical properties, it is an exceptional
insulator with good thermal shock resistance.
The silicon nitride ball valve is a lot better than a steel ball valve in terms of strength
but since silicon nitride is advanced ceramic, the cost is not cheap but in engineering
it is known that a good material performance comes with a cost. Another advantage
of silicon nitride which is already stated in the first line is the corrosion resistance, all
metals may be subjected to corrosion, even steel because in a faucet valve
application, part of the valve is always in contact with the hydrogen and oxygen, the
components of water and that would cause slow corrosion and might lead to

8
contamination but because silicon nitride is inert in its form, it would never react
chemically to the liquid or even to its own case.

Composite Material

Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass

Fig. 5: Vinyl Ester – Glass Reinforced

Vinyl ester resin, or often just vinyl ester, is a resin produced by the
esterification of an epoxy resin with acrylic or methacrylic acids. This thermoset
material can be used as an alternative to polyester and epoxy materials as the
thermoset polymer matrix in composite materials, where its characteristics,
strengths, and bulk cost are intermediate between polyester and epoxy. Vinyl ester
has lower resin viscosity (approx. 200 cups) than polyester (approx. 500cps) and
epoxy (approx. 900cps). Renewable precursors to vinyl ester resins have been
developed. Vinyl resins are often used in repair materials and laminating because it
is waterproof and reliable.
Fiberglass (American English) or fiber-glass (Commonwealth English) is a
common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be
randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet (called a chopped strand mat), or woven
into a fabric. The plastic matrix may be a thermoset polymer matrix—most often
based on thermosetting polymers such as epoxy, polyester resin, or vinyl-ester—or a
thermoplastic.
Fiber-reinforced composites are a well-recognized option for repair and
rehabilitation of the pipelines for the oil and gas industry. Infilled composite sleeve
system provides an effective rehabilitation solution, where the sleeve acts as prime
reinforcement without any direct contact with steel. However, the long-term
performance of the repair is dependent, in part, on the effect of hygrothermal ageing
of the composites. In this publication, glass transition temperature and mechanical
properties are compared for glass-fiber reinforced vinyl ester composite, both as-
manufactured and after hot-wet con ditioning at 80℃. The tensile and shear strength

9
reduced substantially during conditioning, whilst the elastic modulus was relatively
stable.
The tensile and shear strength reduced substantially during conditioning,
whilst the elastic modulus was relatively stable. The average glass transition
temperature of the composite dropped from the as-manufactured value of 110℃ to
97℃ and 101℃, after 1000 and 3000 h of conditioning, respectively, indicating that it
is stable and that the composite is suitable for use as a pipeline repair material
operating at 80℃. The results indicate that a 1000 h conditioning period, specified as
a minimum period in ISO/TS 24817 is suitable for representing long-term properties
for stiffness-based designs for the composite material and conditioning temperature
investigated.
The Vinyl- Ester Glass Reinforced is offering an improved and increased
capability in the field of industrial piping system, it has a great corrosion resistance
modified to be long-lasting than the metal and as durable and smooth like the
ceramics material. The composite materials such as Vinyl- Ester Glass Reinforced
can provide an additional features and properties development than the traditional
materials, which is the main reason why composite materials are created to combine
two materials and possess the characteristics of both materials, with a purpose of
making a versatile material for different applications and undergo different
conditions.

Fig. 6: Layers of Composition of Vinyl-Ester and Fiber Glass

Properties of Vinyl-Ester and Fiber Glass:

Durability:
Thermal Limit:
The Vinyl-Ester Glass Fiber has a minimum and maximum temperature
(-)46°C to 149°C. It has a good thermal quality for the highest average temperature

10
limit of 149°C it is suitable for the application for industrial pipelines of that is working
of 80°C. Thus, we can say that it is more suitable in the faucet application.
The ball valve using the composite material Vinyl-Ester Glass Reinforced has
been designed to provide an advantage in terms of durability with minimum and
maximum thermal limit of -46°C to 149°C and the manufacturer of the ball valve
using the vinyl-ester – glass reinforced is confident that the material can last longer
than a decade, that`s why they are willing to cover all the replacement fee when it
breaks naturally.
Lifespan:
According to Nil-Cor. Company, the average is 7 years and if the ball valve
corrodes earlier than that, they will replace immediately the ball valve covering all the
cost. The thermosetting resins used in GRP are far stronger and more durable than
other plastics: Most GRP products have a lifespan of more than 50 years, Amiblu
pipes even last for more than 150 years, which results in the product being
considerably better for the environment. With the years of traditional usage of steel
pipes in the industry the it has been proven that the composite materials (Vinyl-Ester
Glass) can be easily substitute the steel when it fails. There is no exact lifespan
which can be given due to many reasons but under natural circumstances the vinyl-
ester fiber glass composite can be in good condition for decades and when it
corrodes or break it is much easy and safer to replace or maintenance.
Chemical Compatibility:
Both salt water systems and corrosive liquids are suitable as mediums for
GRVE as well as most acids and bases. The Hydrocarbons are the natural gas that
is composite materials that they do have a corrosion resistance mechanism which is
being studied for years. The Vinyl-Ester Glass Reinforced has been designed to
possess a great corrosion resistance under some common natural circumstances
and variety of fluids such as for the salt-water brines and other corrosive liquids
except the hydrocarbon’s fluids.
Performance:
With the basis of one of the top manufacturers of ball valve in the U.S. they
guaranteed a pressure limit of 1895.54kPag, Young`s Modulus – 15GPa; Tensile
Strength- 200MPa, Tensile Strength- 3.4MPa density-3.67g/cm3. This is accepted
and specified as a minimum period in ISO/TS 24817 is suitable for representing
long-term properties for stiffness-based designs for the composite material and
conditioning temperature investigated.
How does this pressures and density affect the performance when in the
process, it will ensure the flow of fluids to be smooth and very good for a long a run?
The safety in the actual operation when high flexural pressure is enough then it
won`t fail during the operation. In addition, the pressure losses will be the thing that
must be considered with having 15 GPA of Modulus of Elasticity they will withstand
fluid pressures. Sealing and Flow Control Precision – the ball valve has the angle
adjustment of 0 to 90 degrees and it is very precise due to increased response in
time to actuator.
The performance of Vinyl- Ester Glass Reinforced is increased than the
traditional materials like the metals and ceramics, the Vinyl- Ester Glass Reinforced

11
flexural strength, curing characteristics and pressure limit are considerably great with
1.9MPA pressure limit and 15 GPa of Young`s Modulus and 200 MPa Tensile
Strength. So, the precision of sealing and flow control precision of the Vinyl- Ester
Glass Reinforced are assured due to its high-pressure performance characteristics,
thus any hindrance won`t affect the ball valve positioning though a sudden high
pressure fluid flow travelling onto it.
Cost:
Vinyl-Ester Resin: 5.3943Php/kg = (0.11$/kg = 0.05$/lb), Glass Fiber:
212.7972Php/kg = (4.4$/kg=2.00$/lb) It is pretty obvious that the material cost of
vinyl ester resin and E-glass is cheap but it differs when it is manufactured for certain
application and sizes. So, it is more legitimate to just base on the price with its raw
materials.
Manufacturing cost:
Base on the research in SciencedDirect.com they said that the molding
temperature of the vinyl-ester resin fiber glass is 135 to 149°C to compare it with
other material such as steel it still be easy to achieve and mold so the manufacturing
cost of the thermoset composite material would be cheaper. The composite material
was design to be more versatile and easier to maintenance to assure its competence
in the industry.
The cost of the of the Vinyl- Ester Glass Reinforced in terms of each material
are 5.3943 Pesos per kilogram for Vinyl- Ester and 212.7972 Pesos per kilogram
and the manufacturing cost of the ball valve with the material of Vinyl- Ester Glass
Reinforced is averaging 2000 Pesos with the 1 to .5 inches of length while the
maintenance cost can be held seasonal to prevent clogging and health of the ball
valve; the plumber fee is the 5000 pesos covering all the works and testing.
Conclusion:
With the properties that have been gathered through manufacturers Nil-Cor
Company and accepted by the ISO standard, the Vinyl-Ester Fiber Glass Reinforced
are designed to withstand natural circumstances of destruction. It has better
corrosion resistance than a metal so that it is much easier to maintain and can
withstand fluid pressures like a traditional material would do, the composite material
is offering a much cheaper manufacturing cost and raw materials cost that would be
a great choice for an industrial company to take into service.
The Composite Material is engineered materials that are combined to have
the qualities that would exceed the traditional material in the industrial uses. So, it is
much wiser to choose the modern kind of material which is modified to perform
greatly in the field where they were studied to have a good performance and
compatibility. The Vinyl Ester Fiber Glass Reinforced possessed all the properties
which are required to be so called a near-perfect material for that certain
applications.

12
 Chapter 2
Data Interpretation and Analysis
After discussing the different materials that may be used as material of ball
valve, here are the general comparisons of stainless steel, silicon nitride and vinyl
ester-fiber glass materials. The main purpose of this research is to identify which is
the suitable material for ball valve in faucet application. The tables below showed the
different properties which can be used to analyze furthermore the materials and
came up to what is the best for it.

Table of properties (1)

Properties Unit Silicon Nitride Stainless steel Vinyl Ester -
Ball Fiber Glass
Thermal limit °C 800 186 149
Pressure limit Psig 6000 1000 275
Young`s GPa 315 190 15
Modulus
Density g/cm3 3.20 7. 99 3.67
Cost Php/kg 418.66 180.66 218.19

As you can see in the table, it has the main properties of the selected
materials, the thermal limit, pressure limit, young’s modulus, density and the cost.
Having this evaluation of the materials’ properties will determine what is the best or
the suitable materials that can be used as material in ball valve which can be applied
in faucet.
Table 2: Thermal Limit

13
 800
700
Temperature ( °C )

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Thermal limit

Silicon Nitride Ball Stainless steel Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass

In this table, the data was based on the thermal limit of the three materials.
The thermal limit is the temperature capacity of the materials that can withstand and
handle of. If this limit will exceed, the certain material will cause failure or damage.
As you can see in the table, the silicon nitride material has the highest thermal limit
out of the three. Second is the stainless steel followed by vinyl ester – fiber glass.
Hence, the silicon nitride material can withstand in the maximum working
temperature of 800 degree Celsius. With that, it has the advantage compare to
stainless and vinyl ester – fiber glass, which it can be considered as a good property
when it comes to valve application. The weight of the fluids that the valves encounter
considering its temperature, the silicon nitride’s thermal limit can be the suitable
property for this.

14
 6000
Pressure ( psig )

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
Pressure limit

Silicon Nitride Ball Stainless steel Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass

Table 3: Pressure Limit

Pressure limit is an important property of a material that should be

considered. The pressure limit will determine how much pressure a certain material
can endure without breaking or causing damage to it. Moreover, if these materials
are used as ball valve, pressure limit should be one of the required properties to
contemplate. Ball valves are prone to encounter fluids with different (high or low)
pressure. Meaning, the suitable material to use for, is the one that has higher
pressure limit, to be able to resist pressure without damaging its’ composition.
The above table represents the data about the pressure limit of the three
materials. You can see that the silicon nitride material has pressure limit of 6000 psig
which is thrice higher than the stainless steel. Unfortunately, the least material for
this property is the vinyl ester – fiber glass that has only 275 psig pressure limit.
Therefore, this implies that the silicon nitride which is a ceramic material can
withstand high pressure and suitable material for ball valve in terms of this property.

15
Table 4: Young’s modulus

350
Pressure ( GPa )

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Young`s Modulus

Silicon Nitride Ball Stainless steel Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass

Young’s modulus is a property of a material that tells how easily it can stretch
and deform. A material with a higher modulus is stiffer and has better resistance to
deformation. Of course, in application, material that has higher young’s modulus
should be considered.
With that, table 3 represents the data about the comparison of the three
materials in terms of young’s modulus property. The modulus of the vinyl ester –
fiber glass is 15 GPA; this means that it has the capacity to resist deformation under
stress. However, in this section you can clearly see that silicon nitride has the
highest modulus, which means that this material is literally the hardest among the
three. It can resist deformation under pressure of 315 GPA.
Therefore, silicon nitride based on young’s modulus property is the suitable
material to apply for construction of ball valve.

16
Table 5: Density

8
Density ( g/ cm3 )

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Density

Silicon Nitride Ball Stainless steel Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass

The Density of the materials determines how the amount matter (mass)
occupying a unit of volume with a formula of ρ=m/V , the m = mass of the material
and V is the volume of the material. Density is an important concept because it
allows us to determine what substances will float and what substances will sink when
placed in a liquid. Generally, substances float so long as their density is less than the
density of the liquid, they are placed in.
The density is one of the important variables for the industrial companies, it is
utilized to easily compute cost of an object with unknown mass, we can determine
the mass using the density formula, where we will just need to multiply the density
material to the volume, hence when we dimension analysis the equation the product
will be a unit of mass.
As we can see in the bar graph, the densest material is the Stainless Steel
followed by the Composite material Vinyl-Ester Reinforced by Glass Fiber and the
lowest density material is the silicon nitride material, through the aid of the bar graph
we can basically conclude that Stainless steel is the heaviest among the three
materials and the lightest is the silicon nitride. Thus, we can say that slightest density

17
would have the advantage since light density means that it is easy to transport and
stored.

Table 6: Cost

450
400
Cost ( Php/ kg )

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0 Silicon Nitride Ball Stainless steel Vinyl Ester - Fiber Glass
Cost

The cost of a product or a certain material is one of the factors that the
company or manufacturer tends to look first. If a material cost inexpensive, and the
properties are way better then, the possibility of buying that material is higher.
Moreover, some materials cost expensively because of its better compositions and
properties, however, not all materials that inexpensive are not good as the materials
that cost expensively.
Take a look at the table 5. As you can see the cost of the materials are differ
from each other. The silicon nitride cost expensively with 418 Php per kilogram. Of
course, you can assure for silicon nitride which is a material that built with quality
properties. Fortunately, among the three, the lowest price is the stainless steel with

18
180 Php per kilogram only. But it doesn’t mean that stainless steel is not good as
silicon nitride. As you go back to the above comparison, you will notice that stainless
steel is the second-best material among the three and due to its quality
characteristics and properties; this material will benefit you in a long run.
Also, stainless steel is a common material for ball valve because of its
availability, properties and inexpensively.

19
Findings and Recommendation
Based on the data that showed above, it is basically the silicon nitride win the
spot of the best material to be used in ball valve. However, this doesn’t mean that
stainless steel and vinyl ester glass reinforced are not good material for ball valve; it
is just that the silicon has the better properties in terms of durability and
performance.
Moreover, looking on the properties of the three materials and the data, there
are things that revealed out. In terms of applications, the three materials have its’
own specification for a certain implementation. For example, you can say that silicon
nitride is the best material to be utilized in ball valve, yet the question is, is it the
silicon nitride ball valve the suitable to be used for faucet application? Or the
stainless steel and vinyl ester – glass reinforced?
In terms of application, the stainless-steel ball valve is much more likely to use
in faucet application. This material is commonly used until now as material of ball
valve in the faucet and it can surely say that this material is guaranteed to use.
Besides, as you see in the properties above, the stainless-steel material is the
second-best material to be utilized. Of course, you might think why silicon nitride is
not use in this application? Before finding out the answer on that, faucet often sees
in your household, in restaurants, hotels, bathrooms and so on. Meaning, faucet is
usually used in particular area of application and the fluid that normally flowing inside
of it is water. Therefore, based on the characteristics and properties of stainless steel
it is the suitable material in ball valve for faucet.
To answer the question why silicon nitride is not the best material to be used
in faucet application is due to its’ high qualities. Silicon nitride material is too
expensive yet too good for this. The suitable application of this material is in ball
valve which operates in larger applications, for example, in industrial plants, crew
ships, factories, HVAC systems etc. The fluids that entering in industrial pipes have
different characteristics that’s why the material of ball valve should have better
properties in terms of durability and performance. However, there are plants that
utilizing the use of stainless steel in their ball valve due to its properties that can
match the silicon nitride.
What about the vinyl ester – glass reinforced? This composite material is also
good material for ball valve and it can be used in domestic in replace to stainless
steel. Vinyl ester – glass reinforced can be used in special applications like for
example; there are faucet that are made of plastic. To enhance the lifespan of this
kind of faucet therefore vinyl ester – glass reinforced can be applied. Its’ properties
will fit in this operation.
For the recommendation, it should say that the silicon nitride ball valve is
appropriate to use in larger area of application, while the stainless-steel ball valve is
the material that is best for domestic used. And lastly the vinyl ester – glass
reinforced ball valve can be the replacement for stainless steel and good for specific
operations.

20
 Conclusions of the Authors:
Based on the table and findings of the three materials,
silicon nitride was clearly the best material because of its
capacity. Silicon nitride has a higher capacity in pressure and
temperature limit which means that it can overcome a
harshest temperature and pressure. It is easy to say that
silicon nitride is on the top of them but looking at the
stainless steel and vinyl-ester glass reinforced, they also
have unique and own characteristics which make them
Clarizz Joy Conui suitable for this kind of application.
On the other hand, even though silicon nitride was the
best material, I still choose stainless steel in faucet application. As shown in the
table, stainless steel was most applicable to be used in faucet applications such as
in the household, school, or restaurant. While silicon nitride was most applicable to
be used in some extreme applications. Also, one of the benefits of stainless steel is
that it is inexpensive and when it comes to quality, it is proven that it is high quality
and second best among the three materials.

By looking at the table and graph I can conclude that the best
material is the Silicon Nitride with the highest thermal limit,
young`s modulus and pressure limit with also having the lightest
density which can be considered as the engineering high quality
material. Though it has the best quality, the cost was far
expensive compared to the other two. Therefore, I had to
eliminate the Silicon Nitride to my choices which then I have left
Junrey Padrogado with the Stainless Steel and Vinyl-Ester Glass Fibers. Among
the two I would choose the Stainless steel for the ball valve application, though it
came with much expensive cost it would still be safer than the vinyl-ester glass
reinforced to utilize. Because as we can see from the graph the Stainless Steel has
much high characteristic than the vinyl-ester glass reinforced.
Based on my conclusions above the best material for faucet application
having the average score in terms of good quality characteristics and properties is
obviously the metal material, stainless steel who have been justify itself not just by
the data gathered but also proven itself in the years of service of the stainless steel
in the faucet application and in the industry.

As a result of our research, in the comparison of the three types

of material; Metal Material (Stainless steel), Ceramics Material
(Silicon Nitride), Composite Material (Vinyl-Ester Glass
Reinforced). The best material that can be used as a material of
ball valve is the silicon nitride. As you can see at the table of
properties the silicon nitride is the best in terms of durability and
performance. However, when it comes to cost, silicon nitride is
the expensive one. With that, I conclude that silicon nitride is a
material that can be implemented in the ball valve, which is
Leonito Y. Fulgado Jr. best in terms of larger application.

21
 Therefore, I considered Stainless Steel material for ball valve in faucet
application. Looking at the data interpretation, Stainless Steel is the second best
among the three materials due to its qualities and properties which can match up
with the silicon nitride and also, the least expensive. Thus, stain steel ball valve is
applicable to use in faucet.

Based on the table of properties, the strongest material

among the three is the silicon nitride. The silicon nitride has
the highest thermal limit, pressure limit and young’s
modulus. Quality comes with a cost and since the
manufacturing process for silicon nitride is not as widely
common as the processing of stainless steels, the cost of a
silicon nitride ball valve will be relatively higher, but in terms
of performance silicon nitride is the best material. According
to the article “Process control in the Philippines: No more
Michael De Guzman than a vague option” by The Manila Times, in the
Philippines, a standard village water supply provides
water at 20 to 25 psi, while a home deep well and pressure tank usually deliver water
at 25 to 40 psi. Looking at the table of properties, although silicon nitride has a
pressure limit of 6000psi, that is not necessary since a faucet would only require at
least 100psi of maximum pressure for a valve. The Vinyl-Ester Fiber Glass is too
weak to handle other stresses found in the operation and it is also required to
consider the wear resistance of the material which is an advantage of the silicon
nitride and the stainless-steel ball valve.
The stainless steel is the material of choice for this application, it has low cost
and the manufacturing process is widely common in the Philippines. Although the
Vinyl-Ester Fiber Glass has the required maximum operational pressure and the
thermal limit required for a faucet application, the wear resistance and the
processing are a disadvantage. Stainless steel is the best material for today, but in
the future, when the manufacturing processes for silicon nitride and vinyl-ester fiber
glass are more convenient, there’s a good chance that stainless steel would be
replaced.

To conclude this research, the engineering material that

can be utilized in forming ball valve is the stainless steel. Due to
its properties and qualities, stainless steel standout in terms of
domestic applications, therefore together with my group we
highly recommend using stainless steel ball valve in faucet.
These findings are after the evaluating and analyzing its
durability, performance and cost.
Furthermore, it doesn’t
mean that silicon nitride
Adrian James P. Bangayan
and vinyl ester – glass
reinforced is not good for
this application. Thus, there are applications that suited
the most for them.

22
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