Smart Products, Inc: Check Valves, Pressure Relief Valves, Pumps

Plastic Body Materials / Gamma Sterilization, ETO Sterilization, & Autoclaving Test / Color Coding

Plastic Body Materials:


Polypropylene	Nylon	Acrylic	Acetal (Delrin®)


PVDF	Polycarbonate	Ultem®	ABS

Smart Products offers 8 plastic body materials for our valves. Below is a basic overview of each.

For optimal valve performance, it is important to discuss all liquids/gasses coming into contact with the valves, as well as environmental conditions with a Product & Application Specialist. Once we select a plastic, O-rings, and pressure requirements, we can create test samples based on a specific project criteria.

Need Gamma Sterilization, ETO Sterilization, or Autoclaving? Smart Products has tested our plastic body materials and o-rings to 39.9 kGy; click here to view results. Or, if your application requires color coding for ease of assembly, click here to learn more about this option.

For questions, call (800) 338-0404 or email sales@smartproducts.com.

Polypropylene

Overview:
Polypropylene can be found in a wide variety of plastic products from chairs to toys, but it is especially valued by us as the go-to material for our check valves. In fact, approximately 75% of our check valves are created in polypropylene because it will work in most applications (appeals to engineers) and remains an economical choice (bonus for purchasers). We also have the capability to produce polypropylene in a variety of different colors for applications that call for color coding.

Characteristics:

Performs up to 180° F
Has a wide spectrum of chemical resistivity, and it is especially good with acidic acid
Holds up against ware
Works well with gamma sterilization, ETO sterilization, and autoclaving
Affordable

Available in:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Series 200 NPT Valves
Series 300 Modular Valves
Series 500 Miniature Modular Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

Note:
We use a glass-filled polypropylene because it gives the plastic more firmness and strength, which holds the shape of our valves. It is also the best plastic to run through our injection molders because once the melting temperature is applied, the chemical makeup allows it to fill the molder’s cavities with ease, seal well, and have the least amount of fall out versus other plastics.

Nylon

Overview:
Nylon 6 typically works best for air/gas applications that require a slightly higher heat resistance versus other plastics. If your application operates at a temperature range over 180° F, Nylon 6 is an ideal option because it works well up to 250° F. Smart Products manufactures Nylon 6 in black and natural; the black color option is ideal for customers who want the valves to blend in with a particular application.

Characteristics:

Performs up to 250°F
Works well with air/gasses
Available in a black color option for discretion

Available in:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Series 200 NPT Valves
Series 300 Modular Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

Note:
This body material is not recommended for liquid applications because it tends to swell over time.

Acrylic

Overview:
Acrylic is transparent, very strong, and ideal for hot or cold environments. And, it is the best plastic choice for applications working with mineral oils.

Characteristics:

Performs at a temperature range from -76°F to 194°F
Excellent resistance to mineral oils
Transparent
Good UV Resistance
Can be gamma radiated
Can be solvent bonded
Very strong (rated as having a good tensile strength)

Available in:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

Acetal (Delrin®)

Overview:
Acetal is a solid choice if you are looking for a compact, high-resistance valve that can withstand tough environments.

Characteristics:

Performs at a heat resistance between 300-400° F
UV Stability
Strength
Stiffness
Versatility with different chemicals

Available in:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

PVDF

Overview:
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) also known as Kynar® is a great choice for applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases, and heat, as well as smoke generation in the event of a fire. For devices dealing with ozone, this plastic is the number one option.

Characteristics:

Performs up to 300°F
Good thermal stability
High tensile strength
High impact resistance
Excellent UV resistance
Extremely high purity
Overall excellent corrosion and chemical resistance
Easily fabricated into finished parts

Polycarbonate

Overview:
High impact, high temperatures, and semi-transparent are all excellent attributes of polycarbonate, but it’s the biocompatible USP Class VI compatibility rating that makes this plastic an ideal choice for medical applications.

Characteristics:

Performs at a temperature range between 40° to 250° F
Good chemical resistance with alcohols and diluted acids
Semi-Transparent

Available In:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Series 200 NPT Valves
Series 500 Miniature Modular Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

Ultem®

Overview:
Ultem® is your go-to plastic when your application requires high heat, flame, or solvent resistance. This plastic also has an added bonus of being EU, Class VI, or ISO 10993 compliant.

Characteristics:

Performs between 200°F to 450°F
Works well with ozone
Compatible with oils, greases, lipids, detergents, disinfectants, lactic acid, freon, acetone, certain sodiums, and most caustic fluids
Semi-transparent
Good flame resistance
Able to withstand gamma radiation, ETO radiation, autoclaving, and steam sterilization, as well as ozone

Available In:
Series 100 Cartridge Valves
Series 100 Specialty Valves
Series 300 Modular Valves
Series 500 Miniature Modular Valves
Click each series page to view if this material is available in a specific valve model.

ABS

Overview:
ABS is an ideal body material for applications exposed to really cold environments.

Characteristics:

Performs at a temperature range from -4°F to 176°F
Works well with glycerine, inorganic salts, alkalis, many acids, most alcohols, and hydrocarbons

Note:
ABS is only recommended for short term use with weak acids, and it is not a good choice for strong acids and solvents, ketones, aldehydes, esters, and some chlorinated hydrocarbons.

For customers who require gamma radiation, we tested ABS for this type of exposure, and it received an “A grading,” which means it had no visual or functional changes. However, note that ABS cannot be autoclaved and has a low UV resistance.
Valves in ABS are typically created via injection molding, but this plastic also does really well with ultrasonic welding.

Gamma Sterilization, ETO Sterlization, & Autoclaving Test

Grading Scale
A = No Visual or Functional Effects
B = Only Visual Effects
C = Only Minor Functional Effects
D = Visual & Minor Functional Effects
F = Major Functional Effects

Color Coding

For customers using multiple valves in one device or in need of easy installation of a modular valve, Smart Products offers color coding solutions.

Over the years, we have worked with applications that require the same valve model, but in different locations of a device. Thus, the easiest assembly option is to color code.

Some of our Series 100 Specialty Valves may require color coding if they are used together in the same device because they look similar, but are designed for reverse flow; these include: Barbed Model #111 & 118, Male NPT Model #103 & 109, Flanged Side Seal Model #154 & 191.

Additionally, if you use our Series 300 Modular Valves or our Series 500 Miniature Valves, we can color code the inlet and outlet to ensure it is installed correctly in your device. For example, instructions reading “install red side first” may be clearer versus “install barb side first” to an assembler.

Smart Products offers color coding in every series of our valves. The standard material we color code with is Polypropylene. Typical colors available are white, brown, purple, yellow, green, and orange. Series 300 offers red, blue, and white only in polypropylene. We can also color code our other plastic body materials if your design requires it.

For questions, call a Product & Application Specialist at (800) 338-0404 or email sales@smartproducts.com.