At the time of selection of metal joints, there are lots of factors that you need to consider. Among them, the total number of plies is a vital one that many people overlook. It is all about the total number of layers of material that a bellow element needs for smooth operation.
Though it is a technical choice, the number of plies has significant consequences. From cost to fatigue performance, almost every factor is influenced by the total number of plies in joints.
Approaching a reliable and trustworthy metal expansion joints manufacturer may lead to finding decent collections. Read below to know what is the meaning of ply in metal bellows.
What is the Meaning of the Term “Ply” in Bellows?
In metallic bellows, a ply refers to a single layer of material that forms into a highly convoluted profile of bellows. Below is a detailed description of various types of plies available in metal joints:
Single ply bellows – Single-ply bellows are known for forming single tubes of material. Convolution formations take place with mechanical punch formation or hydroforming. This results in the creation of a flexible element to absorb movements in axial, lateral, and angular directions.
Applications include mechanical seals, actuators, volume compensators, OEM components, and many more.
Two-ply bellows – Two-ply bellows make use of two concentric layers of thinner materials. Together, they result in the formation of a convolution profile. Both plies work together and result in doubling the pressure capacity. The load is distributed across, thus reducing peak stress at a particular point.
Places of application are chemical plants, power generation plants, and gas and liquid piping systems. Applications that require extended life cycle without premium cost may benefit from two-ply bellows.
Multi-ply bellows – Multi-ply bellows make use of more than three layers, where every ply is typically thinner than those used in others. Top manufacturers specialize in coming up with multi-ply bellows with a long life cycle and welded tube technology.
Applications include engine exhaust systems, power generation systems, subsea oil and gas applications, etc.
This is a detailed comparison of how the number of plies affects the selection of metal bellows expansion joints for industrial applications. Vital factors that you must not overlook at the time of selection of bellows include pressure capacity, spring rate, range of movement, leakage redundancy, and complexity level.
As a Final Word!
Places requiring high operating temperature, thermal cycles, and operating pressure can benefit from multi-ply bellows. Otherwise, single-ply or two-ply bellows may be the best.
Making your way to a trustworthy metal expansion joints manufacturer like Flexpert Bellows may lead you to the best collections. That too, matching required dimensions at an affordable cost!