Cam & Groove Fittings: Which Material Is Right for You?

Selecting the appropriate camlock material is important to ensure effective operations and a long service life. Identifying which material to use will depend on each specific application.  In the Blog below, we will compare the different materials available to help the user select the correct material for a particular application.

Selecting the most suitable Material

When choosing what camlock material to use for your application, it is necessary to consider a few factors, which are usually determined by the fluid being transferred, and sometimes by the outside environment.  These factors include material compatibility, durability, temperature and pressure ratings, as well as the cost of the material. 

• ● Material Compatibility: Is it compatible with the fluid being transferred?

• ● Material Durability: Is it suitable for your outside environment?

• ● Temperature: Usually depends on the gaskets being used.  

• ● Pressure Rating: Is usually standard, depending on camlock size and material.  

• ● Cost: Is it cost-effective for a given application size? 

Which camlock material to choose for general applications?

Cam and groove couplings come in a wide variety of materials. Aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene, and brass are the most common materials. However, they are also available in malleable, cast, and ductile iron, nylon (Ny-glass), and Hastelloy C. 

1. Aluminum: makes for lightweight and cost-effective couplers, which is why they are the most commonly used of all the materials. They are suitable for connections in water, hydraulic oil, or petroleum industries.

2. Stainless Steel: is the most durable material, suitable for applications that have extreme temperatures, and they are also resistant to corrosion caused by chemicals. This makes them the most suitable camlock material for most applications; however, they are more expensive than aluminum and one of the heaviest options.

3. Brass: is also durable but softer than stainless steel. They also have anti-corrosive properties, particularly resistant to salt water and brine. They are widely used in marine applications, and they also work well with water, gasoline, petroleum products, and hydraulic oils. 

4. Polypropylene: makes for the lightest weight and the most cost-effective material. This makes poly cams the best material when an inexpensive camlock coupler is required. While they are very lightweight, they can withstand tough chemicals and are widely used in the agricultural industry. 

5. Nylon (Ny-glass): fittings are similar to polypropylene, but nylon is stronger and better in terms of withstanding tough chemicals, liquid corrosion, and temperature levels. 

6. Iron: couplers, which include ductile, malleable, and cast iron, are very durable and strong; however, they are also heavy and expensive. These specialised Camlocks are not widely used in general industry applications and are usually specially manufactured.

7. Hastelloy C: camlocks are very specialized and are usually specially ordered for projects. They are used in very corrosive applications.

To help identify which material to use, see below: a rating system from 1-4, for the most common materials ranked according to 1) chemical compatibility, 2) durability, 3) temperature and pressure rating, and 4) cost.  

1) Which material to choose for chemical compatibility?

1. Stainless Steel: is the best overall choice and offers the widest chemical resistance.

2. Polypropylene: offers strong chemical resistance at a lower cost, the best choice for agriculture and some industrial chemicals, including acids and alkalis.

3. Brass: provides good resistance to salt water, coolants, and petroleum products; however, it is generally not suitable for strong acids and alkalis.

4. Aluminum: has good corrosion resistance for general use, such as fresh water, oil, and petroleum products

* Note: In many instances, the gasket will have to be checked to make sure of its chemical compatibility. All metal camlocks come with Buna-Nitrile gaskets, and plastic camlocks come with EPDM gaskets. Other gaskets are available for better chemical compatibility, depending on the fluid being transferred.

 ● Click here for a link to a Chemical Compatibility Chart: https://www.coleparmer.com/chemical-resistance 

2) Which material to choose for durability?

1. Stainless Steel: is the strongest, the most durable, and also the heaviest, along with brass.

2. Brass: is strong but softer than stainless and just about as heavy.

3. Aluminum: relative to their light weight, they are strong and durable.

4. Polypropylene: is the lightest and the least durable.

3) Which material to choose for heat and pressure tolerance? 

1. Stainless Steel: offers the highest tolerance for both heat and pressure.

2. Brass:  offers good resistance for both.

3. Aluminum: offers good heat and pressure ratings relative to its weight.

4. Polypropylene: offers the lowest resistance to heat and pressure. As the heat increases, their pressure rating decreases as they can become softer with heat.

* Note: In most situations, it will be the gasket that will determine the camlock's heat tolerance.

4) Which material to choose for cost-effectiveness?

1. Polypropylene: is the most cost-effective, making it ‘easy’ to replace.

2.  Aluminum: is very well priced for its weight and its wide range of functions.

3. Stainless Steel: has become better priced than brass, especially with the 304 option.

4. Brass: are the most expensive and still the preferred camlock for certain applications.

Cheat Sheet: Material Selection Based On Industry

• ● General Use: Aluminum 

• ● Corrosive Chemicals: Usually Stainless Steel or Polypropylene

• ● Agriculture: Polypropylene ( Sometimes Stainless)

• ● Marine/Brine: Brass (Sometimes Poly and Stainless)

• ● Fuel & Oil: Usually Aluminum and Brass (Stainless becoming more popular)

• ● Food & Beverage: Stainless and Poly

• ● Manufacturing: Usually Stainless or Brass (Sometimes Poly and Aluminum)

• ● Construction: Usually Stainless and Aluminum

• ● Chemical & Pharmaceutical: Usually Stainless Steel and Poly (Sometimes Brass)

• ● Water Treatment & Wastewater: Usually Stainless (Sometimes Poly and Aluminum)

• ● Potable water: Stainless Steel (Sometimes Poly with food grade or NSF certification)

• ● Non-potable water: Brass and Poly

• ● Military & Government: Usually Aluminum, often anodized (Sometimes Stainless and Brass)

• ● Ship Building: Brass and Stainless

In Summary:

Selecting the most suitable coupler material is important to ensure safe working conditions and reliable operations. Suitability of the material depends on the fluid being transferred, the working environment, and budget considerations. The most common materials used are aluminum, stainless steel, brass, and polypropylene, each with distinct pros and cons. Aluminum is the most widely used since it is lightweight, relatively strong, and well-priced. Stainless steel is generally the best and is suitable for the widest range of applications; however, it has a higher cost when compared to Aluminum and Poly. Polypropylene is the lowest-priced option, the lightest weight, and has good chemical resistance. Brass is well-suited for saltwater and is historically grandfathered into many applications that could also be served with stainless steel 304 or 316. Other specialized materials such as nylon, iron, or Hastelloy are used for niche applications. By considering factors like chemical compatibility, temperature and pressure ranges, durability, and cost, users can select the most suitable camlock material for a specific application.

 CLICK HERE for all Camlock Coupling Types