One of the most common materials around you is stainless steel. While you may use stainless steel as it is, many people want to increase the capacity of the metal. Hence, they mix it with nickel, carbon, molybdenum, iron, chromium, etc. If you mix these elements with stainless steel, you will be able to enhance the quality of the steel. As a result, you will get better properties in the metal. Therefore, seamless stainless steel tubes and pipes are in high demand because of their benefits.
Since you use seamless pipes in various industries, the smoother the finishing of the pipes, the better they will perform. In addition, mixing other elements with stainless steel makes the lines corrosion-resistant, robust, and durable.
Even when it comes to stainless steel tubes, there are different types that you can choose from. Here are some of the types of stainless steel pipes that you can try:
- Duplex
- Ferritic
- Precipitation
- Austenitic
- Martensitic
You may choose austenitic stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes among all these different types of stainless steel. Austenitic steel comes in 304 grades, which is ideal for making the metal more potent than it already is. Also, austenitic stainless steel can endure extreme temperatures – from severe cold to harsh heat.
As a result, most manufacturers choose this specific type of steel for their seamless pipes. If you notice closely, refrigerators, plumbing, boiler, heating, etc., have seamless pipes that the manufacturers produce using austenitic steel.
Even if you talk to the manufacturers who produce welded pipes, you will see that they prefer austenitic steel for the same. Whether it is welded pipe or seamless pipe, the idea is to offer you more robustness and better quality that will last long. It is because you use stainless steel in almost all industries, from food & beverages to construction, textile operations, automobiles, etc.
Different uses of stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes:
Looking at the history of piping solutions, you will notice that seamless pipes have been there for a very long time. However, most companies would only choose seamless pipes if these are costlier than welded pipes.
But in the past, the requirement for seamless pipes has increased. You can get in touch with many seamless tube and pipe manufacturers now. More people realize the potential of seamless pipes. Some of you who used to choose welded pipes have shifted to seamless ones.
Let us look at some of the properties that make seamless pipes the most suitable option for any piping solutions:
- Seamless pipes are lightweight, which makes them ideal for industries such as automobiles, aviation, etc. Even though the pipes are light, they can hold heavy weights without worrying you. In addition, the pipes are strong enough to withstand even extreme pressure if you want to.
- The previous point brings us to our next point: the resistance toward temperatures of the stainless steel seamless tubes. No matter the temperature you want to use the pipes, they are the safest options. You can use them from under zero degree celsius to above 800° C. Since the temperature range for the pipes is so broad, you can use the seamless tubes and pipes in a wide range of industries.
- There are many reasons for choosing stainless steel seamless pipes: their corrosion resistance. You can use the pipes even under seawater without fearing they would lose shape as they erode. Similarly, you can use them in desert areas where the wind carries sand.
- If you require tubes with a specific diameter, seamless pipes are what you need. You can choose from different sizes with different diameters as per your requirements. The wall thickness of the seamless pipes also makes them an ideal choice for industries like oil & gas, petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding industries, etc.
- The durability of the stainless steel seamless pipes is the best feature you can rely on. As you already know, seamless tubes and pipes manufacturers use other materials to enhance the properties of stainless steel. The improved pipes are even more durable than standard stainless steel pipes. So, once you install the pipes, you will not need to change anything for a decade or even more. Also, since there are no welded parts in the pipes, you do not need to check for leaks or cracks. As a result, you save money on maintenance.
- Seamless pipes are necessary when choosing piping solutions for the food & beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. You do not need any contamination to take place when you are operating in these industries. Stainless steel pipes have no impurities. And the seamlessness of the pipes resists any leaks from taking place. Hence, you can rest assured that there are no risks when you use stainless steel seamless pipes.
- The best part about choosing stainless steel pipes is that the material is 100% recyclable. It means that when you need to replace the pipes after decades of use, you do not waste any part of them. The manufacturers can use the pipes and melt them to extract the metal, which they can use to produce new seamless pipes.
Welded pipes and seamless pipes:
You can choose primarily from the two types of available pipes – welded and seamless. As the name suggests, welded pipes have edges that the manufacturers join together using electric welding.
On the other hand, you do not have to deal with any welded edges when you choose seamless pipes.
The manufacturers roll sheet metals to give them a round shape and weld the open ends together. However, seamless tubes and pipes manufacturers use solid cylindrical billets to produce seamless pipes.
Since the production process is easy, you will get welded pipes at a lower cost than seamless pipes. It is easy for the fabricator to measure the sheet metal before cutting to get a specific diameter for the pipe.
The manufacturers use steel billets and puncture them using a mandrel with a specific diameter. Hence, it might be challenging for the manufacturers to produce seamless tubes with different diameters. However, some manufacturers now use updated technology and modern machines. Hence, if you inform the specific diameter of the pipes you require, the manufacturers may produce the pipes you need.
If you are looking for a cost-effective piping solution, you should choose welded pipes. However, as you know, welded pipes may develop cracks when you constantly expose them to harsh chemicals. If the pipes start to leak products, you must call for maintenance. The leakage can harm you, primarily if you work in the chemical industry. In addition, if you do not fix the leak, it may damage the pipes beyond repair. You will need to replace the whole piping solution. You can understand by now that the cheaper pipes will cost you more since you need to service the pipes constantly.
On the contrary, seamless tubes and pipes may appear costlier, but the pipes do not come with the added cost you generally notice in welded pipes. We have already discussed the benefits of seamless pipes. Once you install seamless pipes for your projects, you can practically forget about maintaining the piping solution. The pipes are durable and resistant to extreme temperatures. Hence, you can use the pipes safely in different temperatures without worries. Similarly, the corrosion-resistance property of the pipes makes them ideal for use in different weather conditions and industries such as deserts, chemical plants, power plants, the petroleum industry, etc.
Final words:
Due to the longevity and robustness of the pipes, you can blindly trust stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes no matter which industry you want to use the pipes in. Although you may find cheaper alternatives to seamless pipes, you know that the cheaper options last only a short time. Also, you may spend more on maintenance if you invest in cheap alternatives. Seamless pipe manufacturers often use the highest-grade stainless steel to ensure you get the best pipes that last for years.
