Excellence in Sealing.
Raw Material Selection: the First Step Toward High-Quality Industrial Valve Sealing
In industrial valves, sealing performance reflects the overall system performance, where the valve operates in combination with the packing. As far as the packing is concerned, its performance is strictly dependent on the materials used and subsequent processing.
The quality of expanded mineral graphite is defined by its carbon content, residual elements such as halogens and sulfur, and the presence (or absence) of oxidation and corrosion inhibitors. This set of parameters influences the chemical characteristics of the product, such as oxidation resistance and corrosion risk mitigation. However, other critical parameters, such as mechanical strength and elastic recovery, are not affected by these factors.
Instead, it is the graphite flake size and the quality of subsequent processes, such as lamination and preforming (molding), that determine the second set of parameters defining product quality: the mechanical properties.
Vertical Integration of Production: Valve Packing Solutions
Carrara stands out in the industrial landscape for its integrated approach, as it manufactures the compresion braided packings used both in valve packing production and industrial maintenance.
Carrara stands out in the industrial landscape for its integrated approach, as it manufactures the compresion braided packings used both in valve packing production and industrial maintenance.
This full control over the production chain ensures consistent quality and the flexibility required to configure solutions tailored to specific operational requirements. Designing specialized packings allows sealing performance to be maximized, ensuring long-term reliability while contributing to reduced lifecycle costs.
Compliance with International Standards: Ensuring Safety and Reducing Fugitive Emissions
In today’s industrial environment, particularly in the Oil & Gas sector, emission control has become a standard design requirement.
In today’s industrial environment, particularly in the Oil & Gas sector, emission control has become a standard design requirement.
Advanced sealing solutions must comply with international standards such as API Std 622 and ISO 15848. Through careful design and the use of innovative materials, excellent performance can be achieved without the use of additives or PFAS, which may cause corrosion or contaminate the process fluid.
Installation of the Seal: Performance Lies in the Hands of the Installer
Sealing performance is not an intrinsic property of the material, but the direct result of how it is installed. Even the best engineered solution can fail if installation is not carried out properly.
Sealing performance is not an intrinsic property of the material, but the direct result of how it is installed. Even the best engineered solution can fail if installation is not carried out properly.
The effectiveness of the seal is closely linked to the overall condition of valve components and strict adherence to controlled installation procedures.
Carrara Compression Packing Range: A Complete Portfolio of Graphite Solutions
Our offering includes engineered products designed to ensure reliability and operational continuity:
Our offering includes engineered products designed to ensure reliability and operational continuity:
- GR8622 ESP: Premium “Low Emission” solution compliant with API 622 and ISO 15848, reinforced with a nickel alloy core to withstand pressures up to 500 bar.
- INCOBRAID® GR8807: Patented PAN based graphite packing with discontinuous microfilament reinforcement, for the most demanding applications.
- GR80SGR: Expanded graphite packing for “Low Emission” applications, also available in BAM approved version for oxygen service.
- GR48: High-carbon expanded mineral graphite packing, extremely versatile and ideal for valves operating with a wide range of industrial fluids.