Stainless Steel Pipe

Stainless Steel Pipe

Stainless steel pipe is one of the more standardized materials resist corrosion due to a minimum 10.5% Chromium content.

We manufacture steel pipe from a steel alloy containing nickel as well as chromium, which give stainless steel its corrosion-resistant properties.

Stainless steel pipes are widely used in various industries for their corrosion resistance, durability, and versatility.

In addition, engaging in bending, torsional strength of the same, lighter, and they are also widely used in the manufacture of mechanical parts and engineering structures.

Steel pipes are long, hollow tubes that are used for a variety of purposes. They are produced by two distinct methods which result in either a welded or seamless pipe. Industrial Metal Supply carries a wide variety of stainless steel pipe products.

What Is Stainless Steel Pipe?

Stainless steel pipes are one of stainless steel products. Stainless steel is not easy to rusty because it get benefit from containing with a minimum of 10.5% Chromium. Chromium produces a thin layer of oxide on the surface of the steel to prevent any further corrosion of the surface. Increasing the amount of Chromium gives an increased resistance to corrosion.

Stainless steel pipe also contains varying amounts of Carbon, Manganese and Silicon. More elements such as Nickel and Molybdenum may be added to impart other useful properties such as enhanced formability and increased corrosion resistance.

There are many stainless steel types: 300 series, 400 series and so on. The 300 series of stainless steel grades is unaffected by any of the weak bases such as ammonium hydroxide. Especially 316 and 304/ 304L, so they are often used in producing stainless steel pipes and pipe fittings.

The Main Difference Between Stainless Steel Pipe and Carbon Steel Pipe

Stainless steel pipes and carbon steel pipes have many similarities in appearance, but there are significant differences in materials, characteristics, and applications.

Stainless steel pipes and carbon steel pipes, as common materials in the industrial and civil sectors, have many similarities in appearance, but there are significant differences in terms of materials, properties, processes, and areas of application.

The manufacturing process for stainless steel pipes is relatively complex, involving alloying, cold and hot treatments, etc., to ensure their specific corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. Carbon steel pipes, on the other hand, have a relatively simple and economical manufacturing process that usually involves hot rolling, cold drawing and other processes that emphasize their strength and hardness.
The difference in application areas is also one of the important differences between the two. Stainless steel pipes are widely used in food processing, chemistry, medicine, marine equipment, decoration and other fields because of their properties. In particular, stainless steel pipes are more prominent where high corrosion resistance and aesthetics are required. While carbon steel pipe is mainly used in industry, infrastructure, oil and gas transportation, its strength and durability make it more advantageous in these occasions.

In terms of material, stainless steel pipe is composed of iron, chromium, nickel and other elements, and has excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Carbon steel pipes, on the other hand, are mainly composed of iron and carbon and are more prone to rusting due to the lack of corrosion-resistant elements.

Characteristically, stainless steel pipe is ideal for many specialized environments due to its good corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal. It also has better plasticity and temperature resistance, making it suitable for use in high or low temperature environments. In contrast, carbon steel pipe is stronger and harder, making it suitable for heavy pressure, but it is less resistant to corrosion and may require additional protection.

Although stainless steel and carbon steel pipes are similar in many ways, differences in their materials, properties, processes and applications determine their suitability for different scenarios and applications. Stainless steel pipes are used in special and high-end situations due to their superior corrosion resistance and aesthetics, while carbon steel pipes are widely used in general industry due to their high strength, durability and cost-effectiveness. These differences make them play an irreplaceable role in their respective fields, bringing convenience and benefits to people's production and life.

What is the wall thickness of a Schedule 40 stainless steel pipe?

Stainless Steel Pipe SCH Thickness

Stainless Steel Pipe "SCH" Thickness

Schedule (SCH) is the term used to measure the pipe thickness.

The outer diameter (OD) of a pipe and the schedule thickness can both be determined by referring to the pipe table chart where all the readings is available. Regular schedule such as SCH10, 40, 80, 160, XXS are normally used when measuring the wall thickness of stainless steel pipes. The most common use thickness is SCH40 while SCHXXS, double extra strong is the thickest wall thickness available for each size.

The schedule thickness will affect the inner diameter (ID) of a pipe. The inner diameter measures when the outer dimeter minus two times the schedule in wall thickness. The piping working pressure can be determined by the schedule wall thickness.

How do you join a stainless steel pipe?

There are several types of pipe connection and the pipe end connection can be customized according to the installation method. There are 3 different types of pipe end connection: plain end, threaded end and bevel end connection.

Connection Types
Features
Plain End
Finishing products by manufacturer, generally apply for small diameters size.
Threaded End
Tapered groove with threaded option like NPT, it helps to reduce possibility of leakage. 
Bevel End
Standard angle of 30° on pipe end, apply in butt welding (weld-on) end connection. 

Five Benefits of Stainless Steel Pipe

When contractors select materials for metal pipework, stainless steel is often overlooked due to its price compared to other options such as PVC for applications such as wastewater and chemical transport. But the many advantages of stainless steel pipe for industrial and commercial application make this a material that provides value and return on investment.

1. Stain and corrosion resistant
Corrosion is the main enemy of metal piping. The outer surface of steel, iron and concrete piping can degrade from soil and UV light. Interior walls of piping made from other materials will tend to rust, are damaged through abrasion, or accumulate debris. But thanks to the corrosion resistance properties of stainless steel, this is far less common. This gives stainless steel the edge when it comes to applications like sanitary water delivery or hospital applications.

2. Value
When you use stainless steel pipes, you are buying a durable product that will last your business for decades. It is a reliable material that is easy to maintain and install. Stainless steel is low-maintenance, and due to its corrosion-resistant properties, it is unlikely they will need to be replaced for decades.

3. Strength and versatility
Different materials such as nickel, molybdenum, or nitrogen can be added to stainless steel to enhance its corrosion-resistant properties. Stainless steel can handle extreme temperatures. By adding different materials to stainless steel allows for thinner pipe walls and less material which means less added weight to the finished product making it ideal for many commercial and industrial uses.

4. Appearance
Exposed stainless steel pipe and fittings are an excellent choice for commercial establishments as the material has a naturally shiny and elegant look.

5. Environment-friendly
Stainless steel is not a petroleum product. In fact, it doesn’t need to be coated or lined with any materials at all, unlike other piping materials. When you need to replace or dispose of stainless steel piping, it is 100% recyclable, reducing the environmental impact. As much as 50% of all new stainless steel that is produced in the United States is made from recycled scrap metal.

304/304L Stainless Steel

304 Stainless is a low carbon (0.08% max) version of basic 18-8 also known as 302.

316/316L Stainless Steel

Type 316 is more resistant to atmospheric and other mild environments than Type 304.

310S Stainless Steel

310S Stainless Steel has excellent resistance to oxidation under constant temperatures to 2000°F.

317L Stainless Steel

317L is a molybdenum bearing austenitic chromium nickel steel similar to type 316, except the alloy content in 317L is somewhat higher.

321/321H Stainless Steel

Alloy 321 (UNS S32100) is a titanium stabilized austenitic stainless steel with good general corrosion resistance.

Stainless Steel 410

Type 410 is a martensitic stainless steel which is magnetic, resists corrosion in mild environents and has fairly good ductility.

SA213 TP347H Stainless Steel

ASTM A213 ASME SA-213 TP347H Seamless Steel Tubes contains NB-Cr-Ni austenitic stainless steel.

Duplex 2205 (UNS S31803)

Duplex 2205 (UNS S31803), or Avesta Sheffield 2205 is a ferritic-austenitic stainless steel.

Duplex 2507 (UNS S32750)

Duplex 2507 (UNS S32750) is a super duplex stainless steel with 25% chromium, 4% molybdenum..

Super Duplex UNS S32760

Material to UNS S32760 is described as a super duplex stainless steel with a microstructure of 50:50 austenite and ferrite.

SA 269 Stainless Steel

ASTM A269 / A269M Standard Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General Service

SA 249 Stainless Steel

ASME SA 249 Standard Specification for Welded Austenitic Steel Boiler, Superheater, Heat-Exchanger, and Condenser Tubes.

904L stainless steel

904L stainless steel consists of chromium, nickel, molybdenum and copper contents, these elements give type 904L...

06Cr19Ni10 stainless steel

06Cr19Ni10 stainless steel is a grade of stainless steel produced in accordance with the American ASTM standard.

Stainless Steel Tube & Pipe Tolerance

In the production process, because the actual size is difficult to meet the nominal pipe size requirement, that is, it is often larger or smaller than the nominal size, so the standard stipulates that there is a difference between the actual size and the nominal size of the stainless steel pipe.

A positive difference is called a positive deviation, and a negative difference is called a negative deviation.

Outside diameter (OD), wall thickness and length are three basic parameters in the process of manufacture and distribution for stainless steel tube & pipe, and these parameters have been standardized.

Outer diameter and wall thickness are particularly important, they are not only the basic support for meeting the design requirements of various types of applications such as strength, stiffness and fluid delivery, but also have a decisive influence on the subsequent processing, therefore, standards for stainless steel tube & pipe diameter and wall thickness of the manufacturing accuracy (tolerance) should been standardized.

What is Nominal Pipe Size and Actual Pipe Size

A. Nominal Pipe size: It is the nominal size specified in the standard such ASME B36.10m, ASME B36.19m, the ideal size that users and manufacturers hope to obtain, and the order size specified in the contract.

B. Actual Pipe size: It is the actual size obtained during the production process, which is often larger or smaller than the nominal size. This phenomenon of being larger or smaller than the nominal size is called deviation.

European Standard

European stainless steel tube & pipe standards specify 4 classes outer diameter and wall thickness in percentage or absolute value on the basis of nominal dimension.

Generally, larger diameter or heavy wall thickness stainless steel pipe use percentage, small diameter or thin wall thickness stainless steel tube use absolute value.

European Standard

European stainless steel tube & pipe standards specify 4 classes outer diameter and wall thickness in percentage or absolute value on the basis of nominal dimension.

Generally, larger diameter or heavy wall thickness stainless steel pipe use percentage, small diameter or thin wall thickness stainless steel tube use absolute value.

Standard Manufacturing Process & Type Outer Diameter Tolerance Wall Thickness Tolerance Others
OD (Mm) Class
EN10216-5 Hot Finished Seamless Tube 219.1-610 D1 +22.5%T,-15%T T/D≤0.05
T1 T/D≤0.09
T2 T/D>0.09
30-219.1 D2 T1
T2
Cold Finished Seamless Tubes ≤219.1 D3 T3
D4 T4 Agreement
EN10297-2 Hot Finished Seamless Tube D1 T1
D2 T2 Agreement
Cold Finished Seamless Tubes D3 T3
D4 T4 Agreement
EN10217-7 Welded Tubes >168.3 D2 T3
≤168.3 D3 T3
D4 T3 Agreement
EN10296-2 Welded Tubes >168.3 D2 T3
≤168.3 D3 T3
≤114.3 D4 T3 Agreement
EN10312 Welded Tubes Series 1 D4 T3 T=0.6-2 Mm
Series 2 D3 – D4 T3 – T4 T=1-3 Mm

From D1 to D4 class for outer diameter, and T1 to T4 for wall thickness tolerance comply to DIN EN ISO 1127 standard, stainless steel tubes – Dimensions, tolerances and conventional masses per unit length.

Outside Diameter Wall Thickness
Class Tolerance Class Tolerance
D1 ±1.5%, Or ±0.75 Mm Min. T1 ±15%, Or ±0.6 Mm Min.
D2 ±1.0%, Or ±0.5 Mm Min. T2 ±12.5%, Or ±0.4 Mm Min.
D3 ±0.75%, Or. ±0.3 Mm Min. T3 ±10%, Or ±0.2 Mm Min.
D4 ±0.50%, Or ±0.1 Mm Min. T4 ±7.5%, Or ±0.15 Mm Min.
T5 +/- 5.0 %, Or +/- 0.10 Mm Min.

The tolerances on outside diameter and thickness from above table, greater value shall be selected.

EN 10312 has specific values in table series 1 and series 2.

America Standard

America standard has two standard rules to specify outside diameter and thickness, ASTM A999 / A999M and A1016 / A1016M.

ASTM A999 ASTM A1016
  • ASTM A312 / A12M
  • A358 / A358M
  • A376 / A376M
  • A409 / A409M
  • A778
  • A790 / A790M
  • A813 / A813M
  • A814 / A814M
  • A928 / A928M
  • A213 / A213M
  • A249 / A249M
  • A268 / A268M
  • A269
  • A270
  • A688 / A688M
  • A789 / A789M
  • A803 / A803M

But A511 for seamless stainless steel mechanical tubing and A554 welded stainless steel mechanical tubing not conform to above standards, they have separate outside diameter and thickness tolerances.

Standard Manufacturing & delivery condition Outside Diameter
OD / mm
OD tolerance mm Thickness
T / mm
T tolerance mm
Minimum Average
ASTM A1016
A1016M
Hot drawn seamless tubes <=100 +0.4, -0.8 <=2.4 +0.4t, 0
100 – 200 +0.4, -1.2 2.4 – 3.8 +0.35t, 0
200 – 225 +0.4, -1.6 3.8 – 4.6 +0.33t, 0
>=4.6 +0.28t, 0
Cold drawn seamless tubes <25 +0.1, -0.11 +0.20t, 0 +/-0.10t
25 – 40
40 – 50 +/-0.2 +0.22t, 0 +/-0.10t
50 – 65 +/-0.25
65 – 75 +/-0.3
75 – 100 +/-0.38
100 – 200 +/-0.38, -0.04
200 – 250 +/-0.38, -1.14
Welded tubes 40 – 50 +/-0.2 +0.18t, 0 +/-0.10t
50 – 65 +/-0.25
65 – 75 +/-0.3
75 – 100 +/-0.38
100 – 200 +/-0.38, -0.04
200 – 250 +/-0.38, -1.14
ASTM A999 / M Seamless tubes and welded tubes <48.3 +0.4, -0.8 -0.125t
ASTM A312 / M Seamless tubes and welded tubes 48.3-114.3 +/-0.8 OD=10.3-73 +0.20 t, -125t
168.3-219.1 +1.6, -0.8 t/OD<=5% OD=88.9-457.2 +0.225 t, -125t
219.1-457.2 +2.4, -0.8 t/OD>5% OD=88.9-457.2 +0.15 t, -125t
Welded tubes 508-660 +3.2, -0.8 OD>=508 +0.175 t,-0.125 t
711-864 +4.0, -0.8 t/OD<=5%, OD>=508 +0.225 t,-0.125 t
Seamless tubes 914-1209 +4.8, -0.8 t/OD>5%, OD>=508 +0.15 t, -125t
ASTM A409 / M Welded tubes +/-0.2% T<4.8
+/-0.4% t>=4.8
ASTM A358 / M Welded tubes   +/-0.50%
ASTM A511 Seamless tubing <=12.7 +/-0.1 +/-0.15t
12.7-38.1 +/-0.2 +/-0.10t
38.1-88.9 +/-0.3
88.9-139.7 +/-0.4
139.7-203.1 +/-0.8
203.1-220 +/-1.1
220-325 +/-1.6

American standard outside diameter tolerance mainly used to represent the absolute value, over and below tolerances are often asymmetric, SS tube and pipe in American standard average tolerance can reach even higher than D4 class in EN ISO 1127 standard.

Wall thickness tolerance should be +/-10%t or better, and average thickness tolerance should be ( +/-20 – 22%t, 0 ), pipeline pipe has a larger tolerance, hot finished seamless pipe largest.

China Standards

China has more quantity standards compared to European standards, but less than american standards, SS tube and pipe standards are similar with EU standards in system, and absorb favorable experience in USA specifications.

Specification Manufacturing O.D(Mm) O.D Tolerance W.T(Mm) W.T Tolerance
GB13296 Cold Rolled Seamless Pipe 6-30 ±0.15/-0.2 1-3 +20% -0%
>30-50 ±0.3 >3 +22% -0%
>50 ±0.75% Also Average Wall
GB/T14976 Cold Rolled Seamless Tube 6-10 ±0.15 1-3 +12.5% -12.5%
10-30 ±0.2 >3 +12.5% -10%
30-50 ±0.3 Average Wall, +22%
>50 ±0.8%

Standard Comparison

Stainless steel tube & pipe wall thickness tolerance are the same as the general accuracy of American ASTM / ASME and EU standards, but slightly lower than the high requirements of the EU standards.

Stainless steel tube & pipe outer diameter tolerances are mostly lower than American standards, and approaching the EU standards. it is more reasonable that the American standard specify the OD tolerance is tight, compared to thickness tolerance.

China GB standards and EU standard have no weight tolerance specified, seamless tube & pipe in GB standard delivery goods as actual weight or theoretical weight, welded tube & pipe as theoretical weight or actual weight.

Out Of Roundness

Out of roundness, sometimes referred to as ovality is tube or pipe on the same cross-section of the outer diameter, roundness or ovality is difference between the maximum and minimum dimensions of outside diameter, is carefully measured the high and low points at any one section of the tube or pipe.

tube pipe ovality

Eccentricity

Concentricity or eccentricity refers to tube & pipe wall thickness variations, if need a high precision in tube tolerance, or fit into other tube or parts, which need a good concentricity.

Stainless steel tube pipe eccentricity

Concentricity be contained wall thickness tolerance specified in EU standard, and just specified in ASTM A1016/M OD≥50 mm and t≥5.6 mm thick wall stainless steel tube the same cross section thickness varieties.

For seamless tube,

WTmax – WTmin ≤ ±10% (WTmax + WTmin) / 2

For welded tube,

WTmax – WTmin ≤ 5% (WTmax + WTmin) / 2

Straightness

Standard pipes and tubes are supplied straightened to the eye: for special applications the permissible deviation from the straight line may be agreed between purchaser and tube manufacturer; the maximum permissible deviation from the straight line related to the length of measurement L is to be indicated, e.g. 1mm/1000mm.

Stainless steel tube pipe straightness

For example:

OD Mm ≤ OD Inches ≤ Wall Straightness Commercial FT Achievable Mm
15.9 0.625 All Sizes 1 In 600 1 In 2000
25.4 1.00 2% Of OD Or Heavier 1 In 600 1 In 1500
25.4 1.00 Less Than 2% Of OD 1 In 400 1 In 1000

Length of stainless steel pipe and tube

Delivery length is also called the length required by the user or the length of the order. The standard has the following regulations on delivery length:

A. Normal length / Random Length (also called non-fixed-length length): Any stainless steel tube whose length is within the length range specified by the standard and has no fixed length requirement is called normal length. For example, the structural stainless steel pipe standard stipulates: hot-rolled (extruded, expanded) steel pipe 3000mm - 12000mm; cold drawn (rolled) steel pipe 2000mm - 10500mm.

B. Fixed Length: The fixed-length should be within the usual length range, which is a certain fixed-length dimension required in the contract. However, it is impossible to cut out the absolute fixed-length length in actual operation, so the standard stipulates the allowable positive deviation value for the fixed-length length.

Tied universal expansion joint applications

Take the structural stainless steel pipe standard as:

The yield rate of production of fixed-length pipes is much lower than that of normal-length pipes, and it is reasonable for manufacturers to request price increases. The rate of price increase varies from company to company. Generally, the price increase is about 10% on the basis of the base price.

C. Length of double ruler: The length of the double ruler should be within the usual length. The contract should indicate the length of the single ruler and the multiples of the total length (for example, 3000mm×3, which is 3 multiples of 3000mm, and the total length is 9000mm). In actual operation, the allowable positive deviation of 20mm should be added to the total length, plus a margin for the incision of each single ruler length. Take the structural pipe as an example, the allowance for cutting is stipulated: 5-10mm for outer diameter ≤159mm; 10-15mm for outer diameter >159mm.

If there is no double-length deviation and cutting allowance in the standard, it should be negotiated by the supplier and the buyer and indicated in the contract. The double-length scale is the same as the fixed-length length, which will bring about a substantial reduction in the yield rate of the manufacturer. Therefore, it is reasonable for the manufacturer to raise the price, and the price increase is basically the same as the fixed-length length.

D. Range length: The range length of the stainless steel pipe is within the usual length range. When the user requires a fixed range length, it must be indicated in the contract.

For example: Usually the length is 3000-12000mm, and the range cut-to-length length is 6000-8000mm or 8000-10000mm.

It can be seen that the range length is looser than the fixed-length and double-length length, but it is much stricter than the usual length, which will also reduce the yield of production enterprises. Therefore, it is reasonable for the manufacturer to raise the price, and the price increase is generally about 4% above the base price.

Application

Stainless steel pipe (tube) has excellent characteristics of corrosion resistance and smooth finishing. Stainless steel pipe (tube) is commonly used in demanding equipment like automobiles, food processing, water treatment facilities, oil and gas processing, refinery and petrochemicals, breweries and energy industries.

The stainless steel tubing that is supplied by SunnySteel can used in a variety of industries, including:

Considering the importance of outside and inside surface of stainless steel tubes for fluid power industry, Our mills are providing tubes that are free from scale, rust, seams, laps.

application
  • Machinery Parts
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Biotechnology
  • Automotive
  • Oil and Gas
  • Marine
application
  • Food and Beverage Processing
  • Construction
  • Automotive industries
  • Food processing
  • Water treatment facilities
  • Breweries and energy industries
Stainless steel ERW tube

Stainless steel ERW tube

Stainless Steel Density

Stainless steel density refers to substance mass per unit volume, it is one of typical property of stainless steel, commonly, density of stainless steel range from 7600 kg/m3 to 8000 kg/m3.

Stainless steel is a wide used material, containing at least 10.5% of Chromium, and other elements added to form stainless steel structure, these elements have Carbon, Silicon, Manganese, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium and Copper, it is noted as high strength and excellent corrosion resistance.

Densities change depending on these alloy elements changing, different alloy content have different density value, even it is the same grade, it is difficult to calculate accurate density values, theoretic density value is given below for reference.

The following is the comparison of several commonly used stainless steel density, data may not be completely accurate, only for reference.

Stainless Steel Density Table Chart

Grade Density ( G / Cm3 ) Density ( Kg / M3 )
201
202
301
302
303
304
304L
304LN
305
321
7.93 7930
309S
310S
316
316L
316Ti
316LN
317
317L
347
7.98 7980
904L 7.98 7980
2205
S31803
7.80 7800
S32750 7.85 7850
403
410
410S
416
431
7.75 7750
440A 7.74 7740
440C 7.62 7620
420 7.73 7730
439
430
430F
7.70 7700
434 7.74 7740
444 7.75 7750
405 7.72 7720

*These densities given at standard conditions for temperature and pressure condition.

304 And 316 Stainless Steel Densities

304 and 316 are the most used stainless steel grades, their densities are not the same, this decide by chemical composition and content, stainless steel 304 density is 7930 kg / m3, 316 density is 7980 kg / m3, so when calculating stainless steel weight, it is different between 304 and 316 stainless steel.

Stainless Steel Density Conversion, Kg/M3, G/Cm3 And Lbs/In3
Density of stainless steel calculated by dividing the mass by the volume, usually measured in g/cm3, kg/m3, and lbs/in3, each unit can be converted to other units.

Conversion: 1 kg/m3 = 0.001 g/cm3 = 1000 g/m3 = 0.000036127292 lbs/in3.

Density Relations With Temperature And Pressure

Densities of stainless steel vary by changing either the temperature or the pressure, in general, increasing the temperature decreases the density, increasing the pressure always increases the density.

Difference Between Seamless And Welded Tube & Pipe

Seamless and welded are mainly two types stainless steel tube & stainless steel pipe, there is a debate whether seamless is better than welded for a long time.

Although with improved metallurgy and welding processes in welded tubes, the arguments typically focus on structural integrity and corrosion resistance in weld area.

Obviously, seamless and welded tubes & pipes difference is manufacturing process.

Precision Seamless Pipe

There are some cases where paying extra for a different, higher-performing alloy is necessary.

Welded Tube Manufacturing Process

Depending on the outer dimension, wall thickness and final application, there are different ways of manufacturing welded tubes and pipes, and different manufacturing method.

Strip Welded Tubes & Pipes

Welded tube start from stainless steel strip and coil that is passed through grooved rollers till the shape is formed and the free edges are properly shaped for welding, cold forming is performed step by step from flat strip into a round profile, the edges are welded together as they approach the welding rolls.

Typical welding method for strip welded tubes is traditionally autogenous tungsten inert gas (TIG), TIG welding method have some advantages that can effectively protect weld seam.

After welding outside and inside grinding of the weld seam, solution annealing or stress relieving may be necessary by application requirements.

  • Coil
  • Inspection and analysis
  • Slitting
  • Auto-welding
  • Seam-grinding
  • Solution treatment
  • Cut to length
  • Straightening
  • Picking
  • End-facing
  • Eddy current test
  • Hydrostatic test
  • Final inspection
  • Marking
  • Packing
  • Shipping
Tig welding stainless steel tubing

Tig welding stainless steel tubing

Today, most of the modern welding lines are equipped with inline induction annealing, then straitening and calibration to control dimension of tube & pipe, cut to standard or special lengths, de-burred, NPD & DT testing and inspection should be carried out as standard or requirement.

Heavy Wall Tubes & Pipes

When large outside diameter or heavy wall or both welded tubes & pipes required, there is a different welding method and process, for large diameter and heavy wall pipes, EFW, ERW and other welding methods can be used.

Starting from stainless steel plate or sheet, the forming is done in a roller bending machine or in a hydraulic press, then some steps are same with strip welded tubes.

  • Plate
  • Inspection
  • Plasma-cutting
  • Edging
  • Bending
  • Seam cleaning
  • Forming
  • Auto- welding
  • Degreasing
  • Anneaspanng
  • Roundness caspanbrating
  • End-facing
  • Eddy current test
  • Hydrostatic test
  • Final inspection
  • Marking
  • Packing
  • Shipping

For testing and inspection, large diameter sizes, radiography test (RT) and hydrostatic test (HT) are often required.

For large diameter welded pipes, double welding method can be accepted.

Delivery

Steel pipe delivery status(condition)

Steel pipe delivery status(condition): cold / hard (BK), cold / soft (BKW), after cold stress relief annealing (BKS), annealing (GBK), normalized (NBK).

Condition on delivery of steel pipe

Term Symbol Explanation
Cold-finished/hard (cold-finished as-drawn) BK No heat treatment after the last cold-forming process. The tubes therefore have only low deformability.
Cold-finished/soft (lightly cold-worked) BKW After the last heat treatment there is a light finishing pass (cold drawing) With proper subsequent processing, the tube can be cold-formed (e.g. bent, expanded) within certain limits.
Annealed GBK After the final cold-forming process the tubes are annealed in a controlled atmosphere or under vacuum.
Normalized NBK The tubes are annealed above the upper transformation point in a controlled atmosphere or under vacuum.

The general cold strip mills, volume should go through continuous annealing (CAPL unit) to eliminate cold hardening and rolling stress, or batch annealing reach the mechanical properties of the corresponding standard specifies. Cold rolled steel surface quality, appearance, dimensional accuracy better than hot-rolled plate, and right-rolled thin product thickness is about 0.18mm, so the majority of users favor.

Cold rolled steel coil substrate products deep processing of high value-added products. Such as electro-galvanized, hot dip galvanized, electro-galvanized fingerprint resistant, painted steel roll damping composite steel, PVC laminating steel plates, etc., so that the excellent quality of these products has a beautiful, high resistance to corrosion, has been widely used.

Cold rolled steel coil finishing after annealing, cut the head, tail, trimming, flattening, smooth, heavy volume, or longitudinal clipboard. Cold-rolled products are widely used in automobile manufacturing, household electrical appliances, instruments, switches, buildings, office furniture and other industries. Steel plate strapping package weight of 3 to 5 tons. Flat sub-volume typically 3 to 10 tons / volume. Coil diameter 6m.

Packing

Bare packing/bundle packing/crate packing/wooden protection at the both sides of tubes and suitably protected for sea-worthly delivery or as requested.

There are probably hundreds of different methods for packing a pipe, and most of them have merit, but there are two principles that are vital for any method to work prevent rusting and Sea transportation security.

Steel strips bunding for fixed pipes

Our packing can meet any needs of the customers.

Packing
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Placing steel pipes into containers

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Value-added services

BEVELING

Beveling Stainless Steel tubes contain one end angled, so that it mates with a complementary tube end. Tubes can be beveled for certain applications in order to make welding of stainless steel tubes easier, which saves weld prep time and money compared to hand cutting.

HEAT TREATING & ANNEALING

Eastern Steel can heat treat some 400 series stainless steel seamless tube. Heat treating realizes stress as a result of hardening, depending upon the chemistry of the metal being treated. Heat treating is also used for tempering, quenching, normalizing, and solution annealing.

HONING & TURNING

During the honing/turning process, an abrasive rotating tool removes metal from the interior surface of a cylinder, pipe, or tube. The main purpose of honing is to finish the surface to a particular diameter and/or desired cylindrical geometric design. Honing is typically a secondary machining operation that completes a produce/part, relieves stress created during production, or corrects features of the finished product. A typical production cycle is to drill, ream, heat treat, then hone.

POLISHING

POSITIVE MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION (PMI)

In some cases, it may be necessary to complete additional positive material identification testing. Eastern Steel can complete this testing in house or we can work with an independent laboratory to complete the testing. Please contact us for specific requirements.

UT TESTING

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) utilizes sound energy at high frequencies, in order to provide examinations and measurements of the stainless steel product. This aids in flaw detection/evaluation, dimensional measurements, etc.

Alloying Elements

Commonly used alloying elements and their effects are listed in the table given below.

Alloying Elements Effect on the Properties
Chromium Increases Resistance to corrosion   and oxidation. Increases hardenability and wear resistance. Increases high   temperature strength.
Nickel Increases hardenability. Improves   toughness. Increases impact strength at low temperatures.
Molybdenum Increases hardenability, high   temperature hardness, and wear resistance. Enhances the effects of other   alloying elements. Eliminate temper brittleness in steels. Increases high   temperature strength.
Manganese Increases hardenability. Combines   with sulfur to reduce its adverse effects.
Vanadium Increases hardenability, high   temperature hardness, and wear resistance. Improves fatigue resistance.
Titanium Strongest carbide former. Added to   stainless steel to prevent precipitation of chromium carbide.
Silicon Removes oxygen in steel making.   Improves toughness. Increases hardness ability
Boron Increases hardenability. Produces   fine grain size.
Aluminum Forms nitride in nitriding steels.   Produces fine grain size in casting. Removes oxygen in steel melting.
Cobalt Increases heat and wear   resistance.
Tungsten Increases hardness at elevated   temperatures. Refines grain size.

【H】 Ceramic lined pipe

Ceramic lined pipe is made through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) technique.

【H】 Cast basalt lined steel pipe

Cast basalt lined steel pipe is composed by lined with cast basalt pipe, outside steel pipe and cement mortar filling between the two layers.

【H】 Ceramic Tile Lined Pipes

Ceramic tile lined pipes have very uniform coating of specially formulated ceramic material that is affixed to the inner of the pipe.

【H】 Rare earth alloy wear-resistant pipe

The material of the rare earth alloy wear-resistant pipe is ZG40CrMnMoNiSiRe, which is also the grade of rare earth alloy steel.

【H】 Tubes Erosion Shields

Tubes Erosion Shields are used to protect boiler tubing from the highly erosive effects of high temperatures and pressures thereby greatly extending tube life.

【H】 ASTM A213 T91 Alloy Tube

The ASTM A213 T91 seamless tubes are primarily used for boiler, superheater, and heat-exchanger.

Ni-Hard Wearback Pipes Ni-Hard Wearback Pipes
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