What is the difference between brass ball valves and other material ball valves?

As a common valve for controlling fluid flow, brass ball valves have a place in industrial applications. However, with the continuous development of technology, various ball valves of different materials have appeared on the market, such as stainless steel ball valves, plastic ball valves, etc., each of which has different characteristics and applicable scenarios. Compared with ball valves made of other materials, the main differences between brass ball valves are reflected in material, corrosion resistance, temperature resistance, cost and scope of application.
The main material of brass ball valves is brass, which is a material composed of metal alloys such as copper and zinc, with good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In contrast, stainless steel ball valves are made of stainless steel, which has stronger corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, and are especially suitable for some high temperature, high pressure or highly corrosive working conditions. Plastic ball valves are often used in relatively mild fluid control environments. Their corrosion resistance is excellent in some chemical fluids, but it is not as good as brass and stainless steel ball valves under high temperature or high pressure.
In terms of corrosion resistance, although brass ball valves have certain corrosion resistance, their corrosion resistance is weaker than that of stainless steel ball valves. Especially in some acidic or alkaline environments, brass is easily corroded. Therefore, stainless steel ball valves are more suitable for use in industries such as chemical, petroleum, and natural gas, especially in highly corrosive media. Brass ball valves are more suitable for relatively mild media such as ordinary water, air, and oil.
Regarding temperature resistance, the use temperature of brass ball valves is usually low, generally below 100°C. If it needs to be used in a high temperature environment, brass ball valves may have problems with material deformation or sealing failure. Relatively speaking, stainless steel ball valves have a wider temperature resistance range and can maintain stability at higher temperatures, which is suitable for the control of high-temperature fluids such as steam and hot water. Plastic ball valves, however, have relatively poor temperature resistance due to material limitations and are generally not suitable for high-temperature applications.
In terms of cost, brass ball valves are usually cheaper than stainless steel ball valves. Due to the low cost of brass raw materials and relatively simple processing, brass ball valves have become the first choice for many low-cost applications. Although plastic ball valves are low-cost in some applications, they have poor pressure and temperature resistance and can often only be used in low-pressure applications. Stainless steel ball valves are more expensive due to the preciousness of the material itself and the complexity of the manufacturing process, but they can provide better corrosion resistance and a wider range of applications, and are suitable for harsh working environments.
Brass ball valves are widely used, especially in the control of low-temperature and low-pressure fluids such as ordinary water, air, and oil. They can be seen in homes, buildings, HVAC, drinking water pipelines, etc. Stainless steel ball valves are mostly used in environments that require high corrosion resistance, high temperature and high pressure, such as petroleum, chemical, electric power and other industries.