Offshore Europe 2011: Total Carbide launches new Intraform process

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – At Offshore Europe, Total Carbide is launching a new process that produces tungsten carbide components with complex internal forms for use in harsh environments such as valves operating in high-pressure, highly abrasive or corrosive environments. According to the company, Intraform allows the creation of complex internal wear critical forms as required in linear and rotary valves, which can last up to 10 times longer than equivalent steel parts. The tungsten carbide components are manufactured as one piece eliminating the potential of leaks therefore allowing higher pressure liquid flow rates. Andy Hunt, sales director at Total Carbide said: “The manufacture of a one piece tungsten carbide component with complex, high-performance internal chambers has been a challenge for the flow control industry for many years. The Intraform process allows us to create components with difficult internal geometries that have the durability and wear-resistance of tungsten carbide and the ability to process abrasive and corrosive fluids. This capability will open up significant new possibilities, giving engineers unprecedented flexibility for the design of flow control components.”