Tungsten Carbide Balls and Seats for Sucker Rod Pump Valves
Many of our customers have sucker rod pumps in service throughout the region and are always asking about the different materials available to increase the service life of the ball and seat valves. The three most common materials for balls and seats are Tungsten Carbide, Nickel Carbide, and Titanium Carbide (balls only). Let's start with the basics for this post and see what types of questions follow. This will help lead us in the direction best suited to your needs.
Tungsten Carbide is the industry standard and for good reason; it has proven itself over many years of service in the field. It has excellent wear properties and has a Cobalt binder, but has become slightly more expensive. Nickel Carbide has similar wear properties and has a Nickel binder. It is best suited to corrosive and/or wet environments. Titanium Carbide is the relatively "new kid on the block". It is a highly alloyed material suitable for all environments. Titanium Carbide has the advantages of being less expensive, easier to grind, and weighs considerably less than the other two materials. However, it is best suited for balls only, not seats.