In the harsh operating environment of high-pressure homogenizers, homogenization valves must withstand extremely high pressures, frequent friction, and chemical corrosion. With their exceptional performance characteristics, Cobalt alloys are an ideal material choice for optimizing the performance of high-pressure homogenizers and extending their service life.
What are High-Pressure Homogenizers?
High-pressure homogenizers primarily consist of key components such as high-pressure pumps and homogenization valves. Materials are pressurized by the high-pressure pump and then pass through the narrow gaps of the homogenization valve at high speed. During this process, the materials are subjected to powerful shear forces, impact forces, and cavitation effects, thereby achieving homogenization. For example, in the food industry, when processing milk, it is necessary to break down the fat globules in milk to prevent fat from floating to the surface; in the pharmaceutical industry, when producing vaccines, it is essential to ensure that vaccine components are uniformly dispersed. However, this operational process poses significant challenges to equipment components, such as the homogenization valve and valve seat, which must withstand pressures as high as several hundred or even thousands of bars. Additionally, the high-speed flow of material can cause wear, and when processing corrosive materials, there is also a risk of chemical corrosion.
Cobalt alloy performance
Cobalt alloys exhibit excellent hardness. For example, ST 20 has a hardness of HRC55–60. High-pressure homogenizers using ST 20 valve seats have longer replacement cycles for valve seats compared to those made from ordinary materials when processing highly abrasive materials.
In food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, the materials processed by high-pressure homogenizers are often corrosive, such as acidic beverages and raw pharmaceutical materials containing chemical agents. Cobalt alloys resist various corrosive media and maintain stability in complex chemical environments. This property enables high-pressure homogenizers to safely process various corrosive materials, preventing product contamination or equipment damage caused by component corrosion.
High-speed friction between materials and components generates significant heat during high-pressure homogenization, causing localized temperature increases. Cobalt alloys maintain excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, with a high softening temperature, enabling them to withstand high temperatures without deformation or performance degradation. In the pharmaceutical industry, when preparing heat-sensitive drugs, cobalt alloy components ensure stable equipment operation in high-temperature environments, safeguarding drug quality.
Application of cobalt alloys in high-pressure homogenizers
Homogenization valve
For example, in high-pressure homogenizers from well-known brands like GEA, if the homogenization valve is made of cobalt alloy, it can maintain precise valve opening dimensions and shape under high-pressure, high-speed material impact, ensuring that the material undergoes uniform and stable shear and impact forces during passage, thereby achieving efficient homogenization. In cosmetic emulsion production, cobalt alloy homogenization valves can refine emulsion particles to a uniform nanoscale, enhancing product texture and stability. For high-end skincare product manufacturers using Microfluidics high-pressure homogenizers, cobalt alloy homogenization valves ensure product quality and stability, meeting the stringent emulsion fineness and uniformity requirements.
Valve seat
The valve seat works with the homogenization valve, reverse impact forces, and wear from the material. In TetraPak’s high-pressure homogenizers used in food processing, cobalt alloy valve seats, with their high hardness and wear/corrosion resistance, tightly seal with the homogenization valve, reducing material leakage and extending the overall service life of the valve. When processing high-fiber juices in food processing plants, cobalt alloy valve seats effectively resist wear caused by fibers in the juice, ensuring stable equipment operation and reducing maintenance frequency. In domestically produced high-pressure homogenizers used by small food processing companies, adopting cobalt alloy valve seats has significantly reduced maintenance costs and improved production efficiency.
Valve Piston
The valve piston in a high-pressure pump provides high-pressure power to the material, enduring high pressure and frequent reciprocating motion friction during operation. In Netzsch’s high-pressure homogenizers, cobalt alloy pistons exhibit excellent wear resistance and fatigue resistance, ensuring stable pressure output from the high-pressure pump and improving the operational efficiency of the high-pressure homogenizer. In large dairy companies’ high-pressure homogenization production lines, high-pressure pumps equipped with cobalt alloy pistons have significantly improved operational stability and a notable reduction in equipment failure rates. Similarly, in high-pressure homogenizers used by some regional dairy brands, replacing the pistons with cobalt alloy pistons has significantly improved equipment operational stability, ensuring the continuity of dairy production.
Applying cobalt alloy in high-pressure homogenizers has brought higher production efficiency, more stable product quality, and lower maintenance costs to industries that rely on high-pressure homogenization technology. As material technology advances, cobalt alloy will play an increasingly important role in the high-pressure homogenizer field, driving continuous progress in related industries. Whether it is high-pressure homogenizers from internationally renowned brands or domestic brands, cobalt alloy can provide strong support for performance improvements.
