Characteristics of Cast Iron Ball Check Valves

Advantages of cast iron material ball check valve:

Low Cost: Cast iron is a relatively inexpensive valve material, suitable for budget-constrained or large-scale applications.

Good Castability: Easy to manufacture complex shapes and large-diameter valves.

Moderate Corrosion Resistance: Has some resistance to water, air, and some mildly corrosive media (better than carbon steel). Surface treatments (such as paint or epoxy coating) are often used to enhance corrosion resistance.

Abrasion Resistance: Performs reasonably well in media containing small amounts of particles (but not as well as harder materials).

Disadvantages cast iron material valves:

Low Strength: Does not withstand pressure and impact as well as materials like cast steel and stainless steel. Typically used in low- and medium-pressure systems (common operating pressure ratings include PN10/PN16, Class 125/150).

Brittleness: Can easily break under severe impact or water hammer.

Poor High-Temperature Resistance: Long-term operating temperatures generally do not exceed 250°C; strength and corrosion resistance decrease significantly at high temperatures. Not suitable for high-temperature steam or thermal oil.

Limited corrosion resistance: Not suitable for highly corrosive media such as strong acids, strong alkalis, and seawater. Rust may occur in humid environments over a long period of time.

Heavy weight: Heavier than some engineering plastic or aluminum alloy valves.

Cast iron ball check valves are not suitable for:

High-pressure systems.

High-temperature systems (especially >200°C).

Highly corrosive media (such as acids, alkalis, and seawater).

Media containing large amounts of solid particles, fibers, or that are viscous or easily scaled.

Critical applications with strict requirements for closing speed and low-pressure sealing.

Systems with a severe risk of water hammer where no other mitigation measures are in place.