Surface technology breakthrough to transform world ball valve market

Surface technology breakthrough to transform world ball valve marketKeywords: Surface coatings,Ceramics, Petrochemical industry

A revolutionary ceramic material surface coating process known as Keronite is set to transform the production of ballvalves world wide, with particular implications for the petrochemicals industry.

Trials involving Keronite conducted at the company's R&D centre in Cambridge have revealed that the technology can produce ballvalves which are vastly superior to both the conventional steel and ceramic versions currently available on the market.

Keronite-coated ballvalves score heavily over traditional steel products in that they can be made of light alloys – so providing significant benefits in terms of both weight and cost – but with a surface that is both harder and more wear resistant than steel.

At the same time, the Keronite process will pose a serious threat to ceramic balljoints in that it offers all the same benefits, with the added twin bonus of no limitations in terms of size and substantial cost savings. The Keronite team recently produced a ballvalve with a surface area of 320in² without any sign of cracking – whereas the maximum diameter of ceramic ballvalves is usually 6in. – and are convinced that the coating can be applied to any size.

It was Russian scientists working at Moscow University a decade ago who laid the foundations for the Keronite coating breakthrough, using plasma electrolytic oxidation.

Today Dr Alexander Shatrov and Dr Victor Samsonov who were involved in the original research – and remain the world's leading experts on electrolyte coatings – are still spearheading the development at Keronite Limited in the UK.

"Ballvalves are a classic application for Keronite", says Dr Shashkov, Keronite technical director. "The process comes into its own where metal wear causes problems and where ceramic alternatives have limitations."

Yet despite the technological breakthrough and the vast market potential it creates, Keronite Limited has no plans itself to go into the manufacture of ballvalves. "We intend to sell the technology not the ballvalves themselves",says Robert Altham, Keronite chief executive officer. "All we would like is for the manufacturers to come and talk to us …"

For more information contact Keronite Limited, Downing Park Innovation Centre, Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridge, CB5 0TB, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1223 893222; Fax:+44 (0) 1223 894222; E-mail: emmanuelle.durand@keronite.com