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The right body and trim material decides whether a valve lasts 6 months or 20 years. This guide explains the three most common materials and how to match them to your service conditions.
WCB (cast carbon steel, ASTM A216) is the workhorse for oil, gas, steam and non-corrosive water. It handles temperatures up to about 425°C and higher pressures than cast iron. It is not suitable for corrosive or chloride-rich media without internal lining.
CF8 is cast 304 stainless and CF8M is cast 316 stainless. The added molybdenum in CF8M gives far better resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. Use CF8M for seawater, acidic and food-grade (hygienic) service. Both are the standard choice when corrosion resistance matters more than cost.
Ductile iron (e.g. ASTM A395) is economical and strong, widely used for water, HVAC and fire-protection systems. It performs well at moderate pressure but is less corrosion-resistant than stainless and not rated for high temperature steam.
Start from your media, temperature and pressure. Water at ambient temperature → ductile iron. Steam or hydrocarbons at high temperature → WCB. Corrosive, acidic or marine service → CF8M. When in doubt, send us your process conditions and Reguvale engineers will specify the material and provide a Mill Test Certificate (MTC) for every order.
WCB is ASTM cast carbon steel (W=welded, C=carbon, B=grade B). It is the most common valve body material for moderate-temperature steam, oil, gas and water up to about 425°C.
CF8 is cast 304 stainless (18% Cr, 8% Ni); CF8M is cast 316 stainless with added molybdenum for better pitting resistance. Choose CF8M for seawater, chlorides and acidic media.
Use CF8M (316) stainless steel or duplex stainless. Avoid carbon steel and standard ductile iron, which corrode quickly in chloride-rich seawater.