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Smart Products Evaluating Results of Titanium Springs Testing

MORGAN HILL, Calif.--For the last several months, Smart Products has been exploring the use of titanium springs in its check valves, an effort that has involved testing of passivation processes on titanium springs used in the company's Model 150 / Series 300 Modular Check Valves. Recently, the company announced that it has completed testing of three different passivation processes--Nitric, Citric, and TI polish--and was reviewing the best option.

Titanium is well suited for use in medical devices and implants, as well as aerospace and pressure vessel applications, due to its strength, toughness, and ability to stand up to highly corrosive environments. According to an e-newsletter released by Smart Products last August, the company has seen the need for titanium in situations where customers are working with saline solutions, polluted water or saltwater "because the properties of this material are likely to hold up better over a longer period of time."

Smart Products (www.smartproducts.com) designs and manufactures check valves, pumps, and related components for applications ranging from medical diagnostics and treatment to gas analysis, filtration, and beverage dispensing equipment, among others.  Customers can build their own check valve by mixing and matching the company's standard components and materials. Check valves, also called non-return valves, are used in piping applications to limit the flow of liquid or air to one direction, rather than allowing it to flow freely in both directions.

The company announced last August that it had begun testing Model 150 valves with titanium springs wound to an opening pressure of 0.5 PSI. According to the company's e-newsletter, engineers at Smart Products believe "it is very likely" that titanium springs will work in its Model 150 / Series 300 Valves. The alloy being tested was reportedly Ti 6AI-4V. If results of the testing are positive, the company plans to test a number of different spring sizes and opening pressures for other valve models.

Smart Products provides a number of services--including custom designs, special testing, and custom assemblies--to meet specific design criteria. The company can assist customers with creating an initial design concept and prototyping it through molding and assembly. They can also design custom tests based on a customer's application needs and specific parameters for open pressure, steady state pressure, or reseal pressure.