Stainless Steel 316 Pipe

What Is Stainless Steel 316 Pipe?

Stainless Steel 316 Pipe is an austenitic grade of Stainless steel commonly known as marine grade steel. The grade is the second most used grade of stainless steel after the 304 grade. The pipes within this grade contain 16-18% of chromium with 10-12% of nickel. The 2-3% of molybdenum gives these pipes a cutting-edge over the rest. The molybdenum content gives these pipes enhanced corrosion resistance and makes them less prone to attacks from chlorides in different marine systems. Apart from this, it possesses superior resistance to elevated temperatures and extreme pressures.

316 Stainless Steel Tube Used For?

The 316 Stainless Steel Tube is an ideal candidate for utilization in extreme environments. It is generally seen in industries that require higher corrosion resistance and tolerances compared to other grades of stainless steel, which are present in the 300 series. The items in this grade are used in a range of seawater and marine applications along with manufacturing parts of jet engines. They are also seen in exhaust manifolds, photographic and pharmaceutical machinery. The 316 grade is also seen in evaporators and equipment used in chemical processing. For advanced surgical implants, it is a metal of choice to be inserted inside the body.

UNS S31600 Seamless Tube Vs SS 316 ERW Pipes

A seamless tube and erw pipes can be differentiated by basic features, which set them apart from each other.

• The manufacturing process- SS 316 ERW Pipe is manufactured by rolling a piece of metal and then welding it longitudinally across its lengths. An Uns S31600 seamless tube is an extruded metal that is manufactured using billets.
• Length- A seamless tube is shorter in, length in comparison to an ERW pipe
• Price- A seamless tube is expensive however, due to certain, additional processes SS erw pipes may be expensive.
• Performance- Uns S31600 smls has superior performance and strength compared to standard Erw components.

Difference Between 316 Stainless Steel Pipe And AISI 316 Tubing

The names of pipes and tubes are used interchangeably, but they have some key differences, which separate from each other.

• Shape- 316 stainless pipes can only be round, while AISI 316 Tubing can be shaped in the form of a square, rectangle, or circular.
• Equipment-Pipes require special equipment to get them in shape. Tubes can be shaped without effort using coiling and bending procedures.
• Strength-Tubing possesses considerably extra strength and durability in comparison to a 316 SS Pipe.
• Metal types- Pipes can be only hot-rolled, while tubes can be cold as well as hot rolled. Both these components can be easily galvanized.

Gr. 316 Square Pipes Welding Methods

There are Three welding methods that can be used in joining square pipes.

• Gas metal arc welding- In this method wire, an electrode is used alongside shielding gas. The gas heats the metal to be joined due to the constant voltage in the system.
• Gas tungsten arc welding- The method is utilized in joining thick sections of metals in place. It makes use of a tungsten electrode to produce the weld.
• Shielded metal arc welding- In the method manual stick welding procedure is followed. Here the stick makes use of electric current to form an arc between the metals to be joined.

SS 316 Tube Features

The SS316 has features, which set it apart from the rest. Below are some of the features

• Marine-grade stainless steel.
• The addition of molybdenum gives its enhanced corrosion and oxidation resistance.
• Ideal for acidic and harsh environments and alkaline chlorides.
• Lower carbide precipitation during welding process.
• Excellent thermal and melting range.
• The modulus of elasticity is 193 x 103 in tension, exhibiting a density of 0.799g/cubic centimeter.