CERJET vs. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a tried and tested alloy that is used in all manner of metal fabrication. Due to its properties, it exhibits excellent abrasion resistance. Therefore, this alloy is the metal of choice in a myriad of applications in the industrial sphere. Industrial spray nozzles are used for high-pressure spraying systems – systems that use pressure to accelerate the flow rate of liquid, usually water, through a closed system. The nozzles are used at the exit of these systems to provide a spray pattern that is tailored to a specific purpose. However, this means they are susceptible to abrasive wear.
To counter the abrasion, stainless-steel nozzles are a viable solution. Dealing with a very high and constant flow of liquid, the material spray nozzles are made of needs to have a certain level of hardness to resist wearing out too quickly. Although stainless steel is a suitable alloy for these nozzles, it is still not as good as Bestline Manufacturing’s CERJET spray nozzles. To explain why, we need to look at the science of material hardness, defined by the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Understanding the Mohs Scale
German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs invented the Mohs scale to rank material hardness by comparing abrasion when scratched with a softer material. This scale does not necessarily indicate the suitability of these materials in an industrial setting but puts the hardness levels of different compounds and alloys into perspective. Therefore, it provides a way to accurately compare different alloys’ hardness levels with each other. It is very useful in the field of geology to roughly identify materials using surface-scratch kits. Today, we will use it to compare abrasion levels of different materials and alloys to show the difference between stainless-steel nozzles and CERJET nozzles.
The Mohs hardness scale ranks materials on a scale of a hardness of 1 to 10. A rating of 0,5 is equal to the hardness of lithium, sodium, and potassium, whereas a rating of 10 is equal to the hardness pure diamond. Stainless steel has a rating of between 5,5 and 6,3 on this scale, putting it out in front of iron and nickel (both 4) in a direct comparison. Therefore, it offers sound abrasion resistance. Not only that, but stainless steel is also impervious to corrosion.
Bestline Manufacturing uses CERJET spray nozzles in the manufacturing of high-pressure systems. CERJET nozzles use a ceramic orifice and ceramic has a Mohs scale rating of 7. This rating puts its hardness level equal to that of quartz and vanadium, minerals that are known to be exceptionally hard. Therefore, science shows us why CERJET nozzles will last much longer than stainless-steel nozzles and why they are ideal for applications where high-pressure liquid flows are the order of the day. Stainless steel cannot beat ceramic for wear resistance.
We offer a variety of high-pressure liquid-dispensing solutions, with a selection of custom-built systems and high-quality CAT pumps. For more information, please peruse our website for details on the specifics of our systems and pumps. Choose Bestline Manufacturing today and let us provide your business with the necessary equipment to maximise productivity and your jetting equipment’s performance.