Is there a significant difference between hard-sealed gate valves and soft-sealed gate valves?

In the industrial field, gate valves are commonly used as control valves to cut off or regulate medium channels. In the design and manufacturing of gate valves, hard-sealed gate valves and soft-sealed gate valves are two common types. This article will explore the differences between hard-sealed gate valves and soft-sealed gate valves. We will provide you with some references when selecting gate valves.

Differences between hard-sealed gate valves and soft-sealed gate valves 

(1) Hard-sealed gate valves

Hard-sealed gate valves refer to the use of metal materials as sealing pairs, usually made of materials such as alloy steel, stainless steel, or cast iron. This valve adopts a metal-to-metal sealing method, which has good sealing performance and is suitable for high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive media. The main characteristics of hard-sealed gate valves are as follows.

1. Superior sealing performance: the rigid characteristics of metal materials ensure good sealing performance, making the hard-sealed gate valve have a high sealing level.

2. Strong corrosion resistance: due to the corrosion resistance of metal materials themselves, hard-sealed gate valves can adapt to more types of corrosive media.

3. Long service life: Hard-sealed gate valves adopt a metal-to-metal sealing method, which can withstand large working pressure and temperature, thus it will have a relatively long service life.

(2) Soft seal gate valves

Soft sealing gate valves refer to the use of soft sealing materials such as rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. in the sealing area of the valve. This valve is suitable for general temperature, general pressure, and non-corrosive media applications. The main characteristics of soft-sealed gate valves are as follows.

1. Moderate sealing performance: soft sealing materials have a certain degree of elasticity and deformation ability, which can compensate for the gap between valve sealing surfaces to a certain extent, thus achieving a good sealing effect.

2. Good wear resistance: soft sealing materials have good wear resistance and can adapt to the wear situation of the valve in long-term use, extending the service life of the valve.

3. Easy installation and maintenance: due to the replaceable sealing material of the soft sealing gate valve, installation and maintenance are relatively convenient.

Therefore, is there a big difference between hard-sealed gate valves and soft-sealed gate valves? The answer is that they have different materials and applicable working conditions, so we should pay attention to this when choosing gate valves.