Materials Can Impact Product Design Life And Produce Safer Drinking Water

As water utilities are looking for ways to do more with less, some manufacturers are investing in research and development to improve the product by using new materials to extend product life and value.  A simple choice of material can impact the design life, function, and performance. One change that has all three beneficial outcomes for water distribution is moving from Nitrile (Buna-N) to Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) for valve seats. 

Buna-N has been a widely used choice for elastomeric seats used in multiple types of valves including butterfly, rubber seated ball, and resilient seated check and gate valves in North America.