At present, there is an intense competition between the domestic and international
valve markets, especially between the domestic market and state-owned enterprises as well as between the township enterprises and private
valve enterprises. Coupled with the relative weakening of purchasing power, some of the valve companies face the crisis of survival. Meanwhile, domestic enterprises are trying to explore some opportunities of foreign markets for survival. By the opportunities of America’s sanctions on Iraq and Iran these Middle East countries and China’s good export situation, it is easy for
China's valve products of high quality and low prices to enter the Middle East market and be exported to developed countries. Therefore, for the domestic and international valve market demand, all the valve enterprises should seize the opportunities to expand their market scopes and increase exports in order to achieve development.
In general, a valve is a part of the machine and its material, structure, processing technology, product quality, reliability all have direct impacts on the efficiency, energy consumption, pollution, life, safety and other key indicators of the machine. Therefore, the status of valve technology and its development trend will lead to a new round of technological innovation. Foreign valve products’ biggest impacts on the valve industry is the the application of new materials, structure adjustment and performance extension.
New development of foreign valve products focuses on the application of new materials in the valves. As the existing corrosion-resistant valve materials can not fully meet the needs of technological development and the production of ultra-low carbon stainless steel valve is very small, the foreign valve industry is accelerating the development of ultra-low carbon two-way stainless steel valves. Ultra-low carbon two-way stainless steel with properties of resistance to spots, intergranular and uniform corrosion,etc in the chloride ion, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, inorganic acids, organic acids and other environments.
Second, the foreign valve industry pays more and more attention to the application of nanomaterials in the valve, using nanotechnology to have the nano-scale treatment of valve materials in powder. The original plastic particles are relatively large, but you can get neatly arranged fine powder particles after they are processed by new technology; you can get the entire valve cavity after sintering and high temperature die casting. After these treatments, the plastic valves can have good corrosion resistance and high strength. They can replace the special stainless steel valves in the fields of petroleum and chemical, especially in the conditions like thermal power plants with desulfurization equipment of strong corrosion.
In addition, nickel-based nano-powder was prepared by carbonyl process and then was coated on the sealing surface with laser coating technology or supersonic coating technology so as to make the sealing surface hardness reach HRC62 to HRC70, to improve the wearing, erosion resistance and corrosion resistance performance and finally to prolong the service life of the valve.
Fourth, the foreign valve industry apply ceramics to valves because the ceramic can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of valves, making valves’ service life longer and sealing performance better. With ceramic sealed auxiliary, such as the ceramic ball seal of the instrument valve applied in the power station, has the advantages of high hardness, good resistance to high temperature and long service life, etc.
Fifth, the foreign valve industry has developed rubber of different uses. For example, the hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) has good resistance to hydrogen sulfide corrosion and can be applied to the valve sealing surface. Hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) also can be applied to the valve seat of API 6A gate valve, which prolongs the service life of the
gate valve and makes it resist hydrogen sulfide corrosion.
The impacts of foreign advanced valve products on China's valve industry are mainly reflected in: the replacement of the valve products in the key projects; occupation of broad valve market; making the competitions in the China's valve industry more intensified, etc. From this point of view, the impacts of foreign valve products on the domestic valve industry can be said to be another issue worth worrying.
As the old saying goes, a man without foresight will have immediate worries. The competition is changing rapidly and the society is develop rapidly. Satisfying with the current situation means dropping behind. Therefore, the valve enterprises must continue to accept new things as well as new ideas. They must struggle to achieve innovation and progress in order to seek all-round vision and have health development and growth.