Valves & Fittings

Incorrect lubrication is one of the principal causes of valve failure and can lead to costly downtime and repairs.

IKV Lubricants manufacture a range of advanced fluoropolymer lubricants to improve valve performance, cycle life and reliability.

IKV products offer many potential benefits for industrial valve applications including:

• extended cycle life
• compatibility with plastic or rubber
• elimination of stick-slip or stiction
• lower torque operation
• greater valve integrity
• reduced leakage
• reduced frequency of maintenance
• reliable operation at extreme temperatures
• global availability

IKV Lubricants possess a unique combination of properties that extend valve life and enhance valve performance:

• Low Friction

IKV lubricants exhibit an extremely low co-efficient of static friction, eliminate stick-slip, reduce torque requirements for valve operation while helping to maintain a leak-proof seal.

• Chemical Compatibility

Our lubricants are chemically inert to almost all industrial chemicals and solvents including oxygen and chlorine, even at elevated temperatures and pressures. Due to their chemically inert nature, IKV lubricants are also safe to use with all plastics and elastomers, they resist washout and able to extend the life cycle of valves in a variety of critical processes and severe operating conditions.

• Temperature Range

IKV lubricants operate continuously at service temperatures up to 350 ºC. We also have oils and greases available that operate at temperatures as low as  -90 ºC and some of the IKV dry film lubricants are suitable for use down to cryogenic temperatures. Our lubricants are ideal for frequently cycled valves in critical flow conditions ranging from cryogenic up to high temperature service.

• Low Vapour Pressure

IKV have products which eliminate out-gassing and contamination worries in vacuum system valves and is far more durable than conventional lubricants due to reduced evaporation rates

• Non-Flammable

IKV’s ZAROX products have no ignition point and are incapable of supporting combustion.

• Environmentally Safe

Many of IKV’s oils and greases are non-toxic and do not release volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.

Process Control

In a control system, it is often important that the valve reach a specific position quickly. A quick, smooth response to small signal change is an important factor in providing optimum process control. If a valve can smoothly respond to these small changes, process variability will be improved. For best performance, friction in the control valve can be reduced to a minimum, by using an advanced lubricant.

Rotary valves are often susceptible to friction due to the high loads required to obtain shut-off. Manufacturers usually lubricate rotary valve seals with conventional lubricants during manufacture, but after only a few hundred cycles this lubrication can deteriorate, resulting in a dramatic increase in friction.

Reducing Fugitive Valve Emissions

The 1990 clean air act has led to major changes in maintenance procedures as plants take steps to reduce equipment leakage.

Valves present a special challenge in leak reduction as stem movement contributes to leakage through the packing and reduces the life of any sealing system. Faced with these sealing problems, plant engineers are looking for improvements both in packing and lubrication technology to meet the new standards.

Lubricants can help to significantly reduce fugitive emission problems by lubricating the valve packing and allowing it to expand and contract without binding, reducing leakage around the stem. Valves operate more smoothly because lubricants reduce the friction between stem and packing, eliminating erratic movement.

Valves that cycle frequently and valves subjected to high temperatures or other extreme environments, especially benefit from lubrication with IKV products as they are particularly susceptible to high leakage, increased friction and a consequent reduction in packing life.

The physical and chemical properties of IKV fluorinated lubricants make them suitable for use on valves in many industries. In order to satisfy the needs of the application we are able to work alongside our customers, to select a material and application method to suit requirements, offering a total solution.