The material you pick for a solenoid valve housing drives formability, corrosion resistance, magnetic performance, weight, and overall manufacturing cost. Start the selection process with the valve's operating environment and electromagnetic design requirements.
Low-carbon steel
Deep-drawing grades like DC04 are the go-to for magnetic solenoid housings because they form well and deliver the magnetic properties you need. After forming, we typically run stress-relief or magnetic annealing to cut coercivity, then apply zinc or nickel-based surface protection.
Stainless steel
304 and 316 stainless are the right call where corrosion resistance and cleanliness matter. Austenitic grades are common for sleeves and thin-wall housings, but you have to factor their magnetic characteristics into the valve design from the start.
Aluminium alloys
Aluminium cuts weight and resists corrosion well. Deep-drawing grades can be anodized after forming, which makes them a solid option for sensor and valve housings where every gram counts.
Selection factors
Verify tensile strength, elongation, hardness, sheet thickness, magnetic permeability, corrosion resistance, coating compatibility, and cost. Run prototype forming and functional tests before you sign off on production.