Ceramic coated elbows for pneumatic conveying systems have many benefits, especially in terms of abrasion resistance. Any elbow that provides superior resistance to abrasion and wear naturally means that you can ultimately save money, minimize system downtime, reduce waste, and improve productivity. How? Find out more…
What is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coating is basically a layer of about a half-inch of hard ceramic compound wrapped onto the outside of an elbow. This means that the metal the elbow is made from wears out and then the material abrates against the hard ceramic compound. In most applications your elbows will last eight to ten times longer than just using the bare elbow.
Advantages of Ceramic Wrapped Elbows
The advantages of ceramic wrapped elbows such as our proprietary Ceram-BackⓇ elbows (which are almost as hard as diamond!) are:
- They provide ceramic protection to any size, degree, or centerline radius of an elbow without mitering, something you can’t do with ceramic tile lining
- They only offer protection where it’s needed, i.e. on the back and sides of the elbow
- Outstanding protection for sliding abrasion
- They can also be used alongside other techniques such as taper boring, induction hardening, porcelain lining, and tungsten carbide lining
Ceramic coating is also quite flexible in terms of fitting your system’s requirements. You can get elbows in:
- Any degree or centerline radius
- Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and galvanized steel
- Pipe and tube
- With plain ends, flanged ends, grooved ends, and other specified ends
Are there any disadvantages to Ceramic Wrapped Elbows?
Like most things, they have their pros and cons and, of course, it depends on the type of material you’re conveying. Ceramic wrapped elbows aren’t quite as good as ceramic tiles if you are conveying large particles or have heavy impact problems. They also have some heat limitations.
Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Coating for Reducing Abrasion Resistance
We’re often asked whether you can just switch out your carbon steel or aluminum elbows for stainless steel ones to get the abrasion resistance you need. Yes, stainless steel is cheaper, and yes, it’s harder than carbon steel and aluminum, but a ceramic coating will almost* always provide the best results in the fight against abrasion. Comparing stainless steel to ceramic is like comparing cardboard to concrete - there simply is no comparison.
*We say almost because it can depend on the material you’re conveying. Sometimes you can get by with a stainless steel pipe or tube instead of a ceramic coated elbow, especially if you’re currently using thin-gauge aluminum and if you’re experiencing impact wear rather than abrasion.
If you need help in selecting the right elbows for your pneumatic conveying system, it’s best to talk with an expert so you can ensure you get the correct components for your needs.
At Progressive Products, we won’t sell you anything you don’t need – contact us today to find the right solution for you.
