The ball valve, along with butterfly and plug valves, is part of the quarter-turn valve family. Ball valves are known for reliable, bubble-tight sealing. Thus, they are a great choice for gas applications where tight shutoff is necessary. Due to the potential of constant wearing on the seats, ball valves are not ideal for throttling applications. The body of a ball valve usually is made of steel and can be made more durable with nickel plating.