Everyone praised the washerless cartridge when it was developed because it was superior to the compression cartridges mentioned earlier, especially in terms of the durability factor. The neoprene stopper, which is the washerless cartridge’s most noticeable feature and serves to continuously apply pressure to a steel plate, A spring also helps the stopper in maintaining this pressure. When the cartridge is turned, the plate’s opening, which is shaped like a crescent, aligns with the opening of the neoprene seal, causing the water to flow as intended. When the faucet is turned off, the solid portion of the steel plate blocks the seal’s opening, which is followed by the water flow becoming obstructed.
When they were first introduced, compression cartridges—which used a shaft to compress the rubber washer in a corkscrew fashion—were used in standard faucets. This would be done in opposition to a seat that resembled a circular bushing. A seal would be produced once the seat had received sufficient pressure. In this instance, turning on the faucet would cause the internal shaft to rise and the seal to release pressure, causing water to start flowing. The main drawback of this device is that it would unavoidably permit a lot of dripping, which would eventually cause the washer and seat to deteriorate.
Almost all functional spheres have undergone constant development and improvement since the start of the technological revolution, irrespective of the industry. Of course, over time, the bathroom area also experienced its fair share of technological advancements. If we focus more closely on it, we can see that the internal components of faucets have undoubtedly received attention in this situation.
An important part of the standard faucet is a cartridge. In typical faucets, cartridges are in charge of managing the flow of water in an upward direction. But before we go any further, let’s discuss why ceramic and washerless cartridges became necessary.
The most recent types of faucet cartridges are Ceramic Cartridges. Innovated in Germany, ceramic cartridges were truly built to last. Ceramic cartridges are the most durable faucet cartridges available today because ceramic carbide is completely unaffected by friction and frequent use. Ceramic cartridges avoid using washers, springs, or even any rubber parts to reduce the strain of routine maintenance and the risk of faucet leakage. Two ceramic carbide discs with two triangular cutouts facing opposite directions make up this type of mechanism. These discs are held together by a self-contained cartridge. When a ceramic cartridge faucet is activated, the top and bottom openings instantly line up to allow water to flow. In contrast, when the valve is closed, the alignment of the openings is thrown off and these openings are blocked by the solid portion of the cartridge, which causes a halt in the flow of water from the faucet.
American Standard Cartridge An early American Standard dual-function ceramic cartridge for a single-handle kitchen faucet. Many of the faucets that use this cartridge are still in use and replacement cartridges are still available from American Standard as well as after-market suppliers such as
The business initially considered metal discs to control water flow because it was then behind both Moen and Delta in terms of valve technology. However, its engineers were wary of metal, believing that it might not be durable enough for the demanding environment of faucet valves and that it might corrode.
They decided to replace the metal discs with a technical ceramic made with a dash of aluminum oxide (alumina) – still the standard for ceramic discs today. After much experimentation and development, the company received patent number US 3,810,602 A for a “ceramic disc faucet” in 1974.
Wolverines very similar valve also received a patent: No. 3,780,758 issued in December 1973.
The ceramic disc valve regulates water flow by placing two ceramic discs against one another. The valve’s mechanism was housed in a transportable housing, or cartridge.
The discs are polished to near-perfect flatness. Water cannot flow between the closed discs because the distance between them is smaller than a water molecule. The technology greatly increased the valve’s service life by reducing friction on rubber rings and seals.
Ceramic discs are perfect for the rough and tumble environment of a faucet valve because they are extremely hard, even harder than mineral deposits. They are the best material at withstanding the effects of hard water. These discs are fired at temperatures over 2,000°F, and unlike rubber or silicone washers and o-rings that can soften in the hottest home water, they are unaffected by it.
The valve mechanism’s cartridge is made to be easily swapped out. Replacement is rare, however. A standard, everyday ceramic disc valve easily lasts five to ten years, and some of the more recent super valves are estimated to have a service life of nearly seven hundred years. (No, that is not a typo. ).
But, ceramic cartridges are not without problems. The discs are pressed together so tightly that they are actually sticky and occasionally difficult to move. Most ceramic discs are coated with a long-lasting, water-insoluble lubricant to facilitate movement. However, over time, the lubricant may be worn away by the friction of water moving between the discs, making the faucet harder to use and, in severe cases, making it impossible to use at all.
Manufacturers of ceramic cartridges have improved lubricants over time, looking for formulas that are more robust and have a longer shelf life. But this technology has a limit, and regardless of how effective the lubricant is, the abrasive action of water and the minerals in the water will eventually wear it away. It may take longer. It may, in fact, take years. But it will happen. The next step in the constantly evolving ceramic disc technology is to make the discs slicker so they won’t stick to each other, which will do away with the need for lubricants.
One approach is to coat the ceramic discs with a material that is slicker and even harder than the discs themselves. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is one such material. A thin coating deposited on ceramic discs using a technology called physical vapor deposition is enough to not only improve the discs hardness but create a very “slippery” surface that slides freely without the need for lubricant. Another approach, used in Deltas Diamond Seal Technology® cartridges is to coat one disc with a diamond powder that not only makes the discs slide more easily, but also continuously polishes the uncoated disc so it remains absolutely flat.
Ceramic disc valves are designed to replace valve technologies that they mimic. In single-handle faucets, compression valves are replaced with single-function stem cartridges, and Moen cylinder and Delta ball valves are swapped out with dual-function mixer cartridges.
Learn more about our procedure to see how we unbiasedly investigate, test, evaluate, and suggest the best products. We might get paid a commission if you use our links to make a purchase.