Krytox™ Lubricants for Reactive Valves

Do Industrial Valves Require a Lubricant?

Unless you have the strength of a superhero and unlimited money, yes, valves require lubrication. The lubricant helps enable smooth operation by creating a barrier film between metal surfaces that reduces friction and wear damage and prevents corrosion that can lead to challenges like metal seizure. Lubricants can also act as a secondary sealant layer to prevent leakage and to maintain proper pressure levels.

Why Should I Use a Krytox™ Grease or Oil in My Gas Valve?

Krytox™ performance lubricants are the best-in-class, nonreactive protective greases and oils used across a myriad of industrial applications—and they are the perfect solution for lubricating valves handling harsh and reactive chemistries. The Krytox™ portfolio can provide a range of performance benefits for various valve types.

Insoluble in aqueous solutions (fuels & solvents)	Undamaged by steam, moisture, or pressure
Nonvolatile	Nonflammable
Nontoxic	Indefinite shelf life
Safe and nonreactive with all volatile chemicals	Extends equipment and component use life
Excellent seal and O-ring compatibility	Silicone free
Noncorrosive	Incredible thermal stability

The risk of using a conventional mineral oil–based grease or oil for your valve can range from minor to catastrophic when exposed to harmful and reactive chemistries, such as oxygen, chlorine, and various grades of hydrocarbon fuel. Accelerated grease oxidation can lead to byproduct formation that can adversely affect or contaminate the fluid moving through the valve. The lubricant may also prematurely degrade, resulting in a loss of surface protection and sealing performance, causing leaks. Depending on the type of reaction, high amounts of heat could be generated that could lead to smoke or fire—and it goes without saying that fire mixing with reactive gas is a very poor combination. It is important to select the right level of protection, and when it comes to reactive gases, Krytox™ lubricants are the only choice to be made.

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Which Krytox™ Lubricant Should I Use in My Valve?

It is recommended to use an unaddicted grade of Krytox™ oil or grease when it comes to valve lubrication, to maximize the fluid’s compatibility with the lubricant. The two tables below are split between the two types of lubricant solutions from Chemours: greases and oils. The oils are intended more commonly as an assembly aid, and the greases are for longer-term, in-service use and operation.

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What Materials Is Krytox™ Compatible With?

A range of metal substrates, elastomer types, and reactive chemistries can be combined within the industrial and chemical processing industries. The chart below details the types of material within each subsection with which Krytox™ exhibits excellent compatibility.
 

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What Valve Applications Can I Use a Krytox™ Lubricant For?

By ensuring smooth valve operation and reducing the frequency of mechanical failures and relubrication cycles, Krytox™ greases not only keep you operational but also grant you peace of mind. Krytox™ is actively used to prevent leaks of TiCl4 for a Mexican-based chemical processor. A Korean-based valve OEM was able to reduce damage claims for their pilot-type solenoid valves by using Krytox™ GPL 103 to reduce friction and heat generation. In an Icelandic geothermal plant, Krytox™ GPL 206 is used on challenging steam valve bushings in frequent contact with highly acidic gases and steam.

Krytox™ is Trusted by the Valve Industry Experts

The Krytox™ family of lubricants from Chemours has been tested and verified independently by a range of industry and scientific associations, including but not limited to BOC, Air Liquide, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), The Chlorine Institute, West German Federal Institute for Materials Testing (BAM), Wendell Hull Associates, and General Dynamics .