There are many different options in valves for industrial processing systems. Choosing the right valve for the particular application and the requirements of the system is important in the overall functioning of the system.
One common type of valve used in general as well as specialized applications is the check valve. There are many different designs and forms of this valve, with different options better suited for specific types of uses. These valves are also available in many materials, but when corrosion resistance and resistance to bacterial growth this important, the PTFE check valve is often the best choice.
What is PTFE?
The PTFE check valve has the wetted surfaces of the valve made from PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene. This is commercially available as a coating on many products and is sold under the brand name of Teflon.
As a check valve is designed to stop media flowing backward in the system, the use of PTFE is ideal as even with low pressure there is a non-stick, non-reactive surface. This means no accumulation of material in the valve that could hinder valve performance in the future.
Ease of Flow
With the use of PTFE check valve, there is also extremely limited friction of the media through the valve. This allows the valve to remain in the open position when the system pressure and media flow is within the specifically targeted range. Should the pressure drop and the media push back against the check valve, the ball or the swing moves immediately to the closed position, effectively preventing any backflow.
As these are automatic valves and are not controlled by an operator or an automatic system, effective functioning and free movement of the ball, swing or diaphragm is a must. The use of PTFE and careful design and manufacturing make these valves ideal for high purity applications where the one-directional flow is critical.
