Rubber Balls: Valves, Ball Valves, and Conveyor Systems
Rubber balls are essential components used in various industrial applications, including valves, ball valves, and conveyor systems. These durable and flexible balls are designed to provide reliable sealing, control, and movement in a wide range of systems. This guide explores the features, common applications, and the pros and cons of using rubber balls in these industries.
CanRez® FFKM and Kalrez® balls, O-rings, gasket rapid manufacturing, & custom molded parts are available now!
Check with one of Canyon’s helpful product engineers for an expert material and manufacturing recommendation.
Features of Rubber Balls
Rubber balls offer several key features that make them ideal for industrial applications:
- Elasticity: Rubber balls are highly elastic, allowing them to compress and expand as needed, providing effective sealing and cushioning in various systems.
- Durability: Made from robust rubber materials, these balls are designed to withstand repeated use, abrasion, and harsh environmental conditions.
- Chemical Resistance: Depending on the material, rubber balls can resist a wide range of chemicals, oils, and gases, making them suitable for aggressive environments.
- Temperature Tolerance: Rubber balls can be engineered to perform effectively in both low and high-temperature conditions, ensuring reliable operation in various environments.
- Low Friction: Rubber balls provide smooth movement and low friction, making them ideal for use in systems that require precise control and minimal wear.
Common Applications of Rubber Balls
Rubber balls are used in a wide range of industries due to their versatility and reliability. Common applications include:
- Valves: Rubber balls are used in check valves and other types of valves to control the flow of fluids and gases, providing a tight seal and preventing backflow.
- Ball Valves: In ball valves, rubber balls act as the primary sealing mechanism, allowing for precise control of fluid flow with minimal leakage.
- Conveyor Systems: Rubber balls are used in conveyor systems to assist in material handling, sorting, and movement, providing cushioning and reducing wear on other components.
- Pumps: In pump systems, rubber balls are used as check valves to ensure that fluids are directed correctly and that backflow is prevented.
- Mixers and Agitators: Rubber balls are used in mixers and agitators to ensure smooth operation and prevent damage to other components by absorbing impact and reducing friction.
Please consult a Canyon Components Engineer about your specific application and we will use our decades of experience to formulate a solution that fits your need.
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Rubber Ball Materials
CanRez™ FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Extreme temperatures & chemicals require extreme solutions! CanRez™ FFKM balls offer extreme reliability where you need it most! Thousands of sizes in stock now!
CanGuard™ RFI & EMI Shielding Materials
CanGuard™ ball materials have been developed to offer superior sealing solutions with enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding.
Kalrez® FFKM Perfluoroelastomer
Canyon Components offers Kalrez® Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
Parker® Balls, O-rings, Parofluor parts, parker FKM Viton
Canyon Components offers Parker Hannifin® balls, O-rings, Gaskets, Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) parts, & custom molded parts at competitive prices and with great lead-times.
FKM (Viton®, Fluorocarbon)
FKM balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts exhibit excellent mechanical attributes as well as excellent resistance to high temperatures, mineral oil, ozone, fuels, hydraulic fluids, and many other solvents and chemicals.
Aflas® (TFE/P)
TFE/P (Aflas) balls, compounds, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts gives high resistance to steam, hot water, atmospheric wear, and many chemicals. TFE/P compounds provide superior performance in water, steam and virtually all caustic chemicals.
Fluorosilicone (FVMQ)
The mechanical and physical properties of Fluorosilicone balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very similar to silicone. Fluorosilicone O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer improved flexibility and strength, better resistance to fuels and mineral oil, but reduced hot air resistance.
Silicone (VMQ, PVMQ)
Silicone balls, seals, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are excellent for extreme temperatures in static applications. Canyon Components carries a range of silicone materials, and we are happy to custom tailor a seal to meet your application requirements!
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene)
EPDM balls, materials, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts can operate over a wide temperature range, and are compatible with glycol fluids that cause problems for most typical elastomeric seals.
NBR (Nitrile, Buna-N)
Nitrile balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are very oil-resistant, have strong mechanical properties, are resistant to wear, and are relatively inexpensive. These properties make Nitrile the most commonly used general purpose O-ring, gasket, & custom molded part material.
HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile)
Hydrogenated Nitrile balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts offer higher strength and reduced degradation at high temperatures compared to conventional Nitrile materials. These properties make HNBR materials popular in the oil and gas industry, as well as many applications in the chemical industry.
XNBR (Carboxylated Nitrile)
XNBR balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts are similar to Nitrile, but the backbone has been chemically modified with a Carboxylic Acid group. The resulting elastomer is a Nitrile rubber with outstanding abrasion and chemical resistance, superior to that of traditional Nitrile.
Neoprene (CR)
Chloroprene was the first synthetic rubber, and was developed commercially under the name Neoprene®. Chloroprene balls, rubbers, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts contain Chlorine in the polymer to reduce the reactivity to many oxidizing agents, as well as to oil and flame.
Polyurethane (PU, AU)
Polyurethane balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts generally have two or three times greater tensile strength and wear resistance than Nitrile and comparable polymers. Polyurethane also provides excellent permeation resistance when compared to most rubbers.
PTFE (Teflon)
The harshest environments require specialized solutions. Often times, a Canyon Components PTFE balls are used in harsh chemical environments. Polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as PTFE or Teflon®, is a high-performance fluoropolymer known for its exceptional chemical resistance, low friction, and non-stick properties.
Product Types
Custom Parts
Here at Canyon Components, we make sure to offer our customers any manufacturing technique they desire. Whether your balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom molded parts be rubber, plastic, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it!
Gaskets & Custom Cutting
Whether your custom cut parts be rubber, plastic, sponge, composite, or metal, rest assured that Canyon Components can make it! Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. If you need something that isn't listed, feel free to contact a Canyon Components product and application consultant.
Specialty Compliances
Canyon have materials available for balls, O-rings, gaskets, & custom parts with compliances ranging from USP Class VI <87> & <88> for medical applications, to FDA CFR 21.177.2600 grades A through F for different food types, to the various drinking water specifications like KTW and NSF. Whether it's metal, rubber, or plastic, Canyon can meet your needs!
Rubber Balls Pros & Cons
Rubber balls are versatile and cost-effective components that provide essential sealing, control, and movement in a wide range of industrial applications. From valves and ball valves to conveyor systems, rubber balls help ensure the efficient and reliable operation of systems in various industries. While they offer many advantages, including durability and chemical resistance, potential limitations such as material degradation and load-bearing capacity should be considered when selecting rubber balls for specific applications. Understanding the features, applications, and potential drawbacks of rubber balls will help you make informed decisions to ensure optimal performance in your systems.
Canyon Components strives to meet all customer service requests. Feel free to contact Canyon Components engineering and let our knowledgeable staff help you design the perfect part for your needs.
Pros of Rubber Balls
Rubber balls offer several advantages that make them a preferred choice in many industrial applications:
- Versatility: Rubber balls can be used in a wide range of systems, from valves to conveyor systems, offering a versatile solution for various industrial needs.
- Cost-Effective: Rubber balls are generally more affordable than metal or plastic alternatives, making them a cost-effective solution for many applications.
- Durability: Built to withstand repeated use and harsh conditions, rubber balls offer long-lasting performance in demanding environments.
- Chemical Resistance: Depending on the rubber material, these balls can resist a variety of chemicals, ensuring reliable performance in aggressive environments.
- Easy to Install: Rubber balls are easy to install and replace, making maintenance and repairs more straightforward.
Cons of Rubber Balls
While rubber balls offer many benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
- Limited Load-Bearing Capacity: Rubber balls may not be suitable for applications that require high load-bearing capacity, as they are more prone to deformation under pressure compared to metal or plastic alternatives.
- Material Degradation: Depending on the environmental conditions and the type of rubber used, rubber balls may degrade over time due to exposure to UV rays, chemicals, or extreme temperatures.
- Compression Set: Over time, rubber balls may experience compression set, where the material becomes permanently deformed under pressure, potentially reducing their effectiveness in sealing or controlling systems.
- Size Limitations: While rubber balls are available in various sizes, there may be limitations in finding the exact size needed for certain specialized applications, which could require custom manufacturing.
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