How is the material for solenoid valves chosen?

It’s not just the medium that matters; the application scenario also plays a role. If there are hazardous materials nearby, the explosion-proof rating must also be taken into consideration.

In terms of structure, solenoid valves are generally composed of components such as the valve body, valve cover, and coil. The choice of material for solenoid valves is crucial; making the right selection ensures that the valve can operate for a long period without experiencing failures. Below are the grades of common materials used for solenoid valves along with their applicable conditions, for your reference. Table: Selection of materials for solenoid valves Material Applicable conditions Common grades Gray cast iron Gray cast iron is suitable for media such as water, steam, air, gas, and oils at a nominal pressure of PN1.0MPa and temperatures ranging from –10 to 200°C. Malleable cast irons HT200, HT250, HT300, and HT350 are suitable for water, steam, air, and oil media at a nominal pressure of PN2.5MPa and temperatures ranging from –30 to 300 degrees Celsius. KTH300-06, KTH330-08, and KTH350-10 are ductile iron products suitable for media such as water, steam, air, and oils at a pressure of PN4.0MPa and temperatures ranging from –30 to 350 degrees Celsius. QT400-15, QT450-10, QT500-7 – acid-resistant high-silicon ductile iron, suitable for corrosive media with a nominal pressure of PN0.25 MPa and temperatures below 120°C. —— Carbon steel is suitable for media such as water, steam, air, hydrogen, ammonia, nitrogen, and petroleum products, at a nominal pressure of PN32.0 MPa and temperatures ranging from –30 to 425°C. WC1, WCB, ZG25, as well as the better grades of steel such as 20, 25, 30, and the low-alloy structural steel 16Mn; copper alloys are suitable for media such as water, seawater, oxygen, air, oils, etc., at PN2.5MPa, as well as for steam at temperatures ranging from –40 to 250 degrees Celsius. ZGnSn10Zn2 (tin bronze), H62, Hpb59-1 (brass), QAZ19-2, QA19-4 (aluminum bronze) – high-temperature copper suitable for steam and petroleum products at a nominal pressure of PN17.0 MPA and temperatures up to 570 degrees. Materials such as ZGCr5Mo, 1Cr5M0, ZG20CrMoV; ZG15Gr1Mo1V, 12CrMoV, WC6, WC9, etc. are low-temperature steels suitable for use with media such as ethylene, propylene, liquefied natural gas, and liquid nitrogen at a nominal pressure of PN6.4 Mpa and temperatures as low as -196 degrees Celsius. ZG1Cr18Ni9, 0Cr18Ni9, 1Cr18Ni9Ti, ZG0Cr18Ni9 stainless acid-resistant steels are suitable for media such as nitric acid and acetic acid at a nominal pressure of PN6.4 Mpa and a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. ZG0Cr18Ni9Ti, ZG0Cr18Ni10 – resistant to nitric acid; ZG0Cr18Ni12Mo2Ti, ZG1Cr18Ni12Mo2Ti – resistant to acids and urea

Stainless steel (304, 316): Applications: Thanks to their excellent corrosion resistance and heat resistance, stainless steel solenoid valves are widely used in various fields such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, food and medical industries, urban construction and environmental protection, water supply and drainage, heating and air conditioning, fire safety, research, and energy-saving industries. Stainless steel solenoid valves perform excellently, especially in high-temperature, corrosive environments or situations requiring long-term stable operation. Features: The stainless steel solenoid valve has a wide operating temperature range for the medium (–200 to +200°C), an IP65 level of protection, an explosion-proof rating of ExdⅡCT5, and its valve material is durable and robust. Brass: Applications: Brass solenoid valves are typically used in applications where the corrosivity of the medium is not a major concern, and cost considerations are important. Brass is relatively light in weight and has a certain degree of corrosion resistance, but it is not as resistant to corrosion as stainless steel. Features: Brass solenoid valves are relatively inexpensive, but their corrosion resistance and heat resistance are slightly inferior to those of stainless steel. Aluminum: Applications: Aluminum solenoid valves are used in applications where weight and heat dissipation properties are important, thanks to their light weight and excellent thermal conductivity. However, aluminum has relatively poor corrosion resistance and is generally not suitable for corrosive environments. Features: Aluminum solenoid valves may be relatively inexpensive, but they have poor corrosion resistance and heat resistance; they are suitable for use in environments with non-corrosive media and moderate temperatures. In terms of price ranking for valves of the same specifications, the order is roughly as follows (from highest to lowest): Stainless steel (304, 316): Due to its excellent corrosion resistance and heat resistance, stainless steel solenoid valves have relatively high prices. Brass: The price of brass solenoid valves is lower compared to those made of stainless steel, yet they can still meet the requirements of general applications. Aluminum: Aluminum solenoid valves may be the cheapest of the three, but attention should be paid to the limitations in their corrosion resistance and heat resistance.