Stainless Steel Pipe

What Is Stainless Steel Pipe?

A Stainless Steel Pipe belongs to a group of ferrous alloys, which are made up of minimum 11% of chromium and can be alloyed with a range of alloys. Due to the addition of chromium within the Stainless Steel Pipes, they form a coating protecting it against corrosion and oxidation across a range of systems. These pipes possess superior strength and durability are widely used in transporting fluids and gases over long distances. The aesthetically appearing pipes can be easily fabricated and cleaned. Apart from this, the pipes are environmentally friendly and can be recycled and reused.

Difference Between Stainless Steel Tube And SS Pipe

Pipes and tubes are an integral part of the piping system. However, both of these components have diversified characteristics that set them apart from each other.

• Classification- A SS pipe is classified based on schedules and nominal diameters. Tubes are classified based on their wall thickness and outside diameters.
• Shape- A Stainless Steel Tube can be rectangular, circular, and square, while pipes are always round.
• Strength- Tubes are stronger in comparison to pipes and perform well in applications that require high strength and durability.
• Types of Metal- Tubes can be both hot and cold rolled, while pipes can only be hot rolled. However, both these modules can be galvanized.

ASTM A269 Tubing Used For?

The ASTM A269 Tubing covers the specification for standard welded and seamless components. The tubing is a preferred choice in high and low temperature and pressure services. They are commonly seen in industrial services in petroleum, chemical processing, aviation, and nuclear plants. Apart from this, they are utilized in heat transmission, pressure services, ornamental construction, etc.

SS Tube Welding Process

Stainless steel tube welding procedures are dependent on the finish and thickness of the material in use. There are three methods that are preferred by welders.

• TIG welding: TIG is the most common welding procedure which makes use of low heat input, making it ideal for materials of small sizes. Argon gas is mixed and used with other gases to form a single-sided welding process. This gives the line enhanced protection against oxidation.
• Resistance welding: The welding process makes use of electrical current to heat metal edges and seal them in place.
• MIG welding : In MIG welding, an electrode of heated wire is heated and inserted in the weld pool

TIG Welding

Resistance Welding

MIG Welding

SS Seamless Pipe Melting Point

Stainless Steel Pipe possess superior strength and are tolerant to high temperatures. Regardless of the grade, SS is a metal that has a melting point. The melting point is dependent on each grade and the alloys present in their composition. The grade doesn’t possess a fixed melting point as it has allowable production tolerance in the quality allowed. This is why the melting point of this metal is a range and not a fixed temperature. Most grades of seamless SS Pipes have a melting point ranging between 1400 to 1420 degrees C. Grade 430 has the highest melting point between 1425 to 1510 degrees C.

SS ERW Pipe VS Stainless Steel Welded Pipe

An SS ERW pipe and Stainless Steel Welded Pipe are very identical in their structure and sizes. The major factor that differentiates both of them is the manufacturing process. A welded pipe is manufactured by welding pieces of sheet metal or strips longitudinally, spirally, straight, or in any welding process. An ERW pipe is manufactured by cold rolling a metal and then welding it longitudinally across its lengths.

ASTM A269 Tube VS ASTM A312 SCH 40 Pipe

Both these specifications cover standard ferritic and austenitic grades of material. The major difference between both these grades is that the ASTM A269 Tube covers standard seamless and welded grades stainless steel tubes with nominal thickness having general corrosion resistance or temperature services. The ASTM A312 SCH 40 pipe covers seamless and straight-seam welded components that are used for high-temperature and extreme corrosive service systems.