Carpenter Introduces New Ceramic Ball for Oil Industry.

AUBURN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1998--A subsidiary of Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:CRS) has introduced a ceramic ball used in oil well sucker rod pumps.

The Z-ball Gold(TM) zirconia ball, ideal for pumps running under corrosive or abrasive conditions, provides superior performance to commodity alloy balls at a comparable price.

Compared to the previous generation (white) Z-ball, the new valve has higher fracture toughness and higher density. It has been reformulated with a zirconia raw material, SF-Extra, manufactured by the Z-Tech business unit of Carpenter Advanced Ceramics. This zirconia powder, 99.6 percent pure, is manufactured with Z-Tech's patented plasma-arc process.

"Zirconia ceramic balls typically lead to fewer pump repairs, decreasing downtime in oil production," said Jack A. Brothers, president and general manager, Carpenter Advanced Ceramics. "Unaffected by corrosive elements and highly resistant to abrasion from sand and particulates, these balls provide a cost-effective yet superior materials solution."

Superior abrasion resistance. The Z-ball Gold's hardness - about Rc85 versus Rc60 for alloy balls - make it superior to alloy balls in abrasive, sandy wells. Zirconia ceramic is 10 times more abrasion resistant than Stellite(tm) Alloy 6, according to ASTM sand abrasion testing.

Corrosion resistant. Z-ball Gold is a proven performer in sweet or sour wells, resisting corrosion in water or CO2 floods.

Light weight. Z-ball Gold balls are 30 percent lighter than alloy balls, so they are less likely to beat out seats or cages than alloy balls.

Z-Ball Gold zirconia ceramic balls are available in standard American Petroleum Institute sizes and alternates.

For further information about the Z-ball Gold product line, including the name of the distributor or local oil field pump and pump parts manufacturer near you, contact Carpenter Advanced Ceramics at 800-288-8730, fax [phone].

Carpenter Advanced Ceramics, based in Auburn, Calif., makes precision machined components for wear, corrosion and technical applications, mostly from zirconia and alumina, as well as a range of high quality monoclinic zirconia powders. It is part of Carpenter Technology's Engineered Products Group (EPG), a wing of specialty materials provider Carpenter Technology.

Carpenter EPG provides parts manufacturers worldwide custom components in advanced ceramics, carbides and alloys, as well as drawn tubular and solid shaped bars.