Valve Seat
Valve seats are important components in a cylinder head. They are frequently referred to as the heart of the engine since the valve must create the perfect seal on the valve seat face, to ensure maximum efficiency of the engine and the deliverance of rated power and fuel efficiency. They also act as a heat sink for the thin valve seating face, to prevent the valve from burning and ultimately, valve destruction. The raw material properties in the valve seat insert play very important part in the function and durability of a valve seat. The valve seat requires heat treatment cycle to ensure hardness and the correct microstructure. This material must be able to resist temperature ranges from cold to hot operating temperatures without losing their interference fit to ensure that they do not become dislocated during operation, which would have catastrophic results in the engine itself.