Which type of manufactured steel pipe is the strongest?

15 Apr.,2024

 

Stainless steel pipes in the Philippines are often used in various applications. Most professionals use this sturdy material for architectural, industrial, and construction purposes.

This type of steel pipe is preferred by professionals in different fields because of its remarkable durability. Some of the properties that make stainless steel pipes the strongest type of pipe are the following:

Corrosion Resistance

One of the most remarkable properties of stainless steel pipes is their corrosion resistance. This means that the material does not rust or degrade even when exposed to corrosive substances, such as water, hydrogen peroxide, and sulfuric acid.

The corrosion resistance property of stainless steel pipes can be attributed to their chromium content. When manufactured, steel pipes are mixed with at least 10.5% of chromium, which provides the material with a layer of self-healing protective clear oxide. This coating protects the pipe from corrosion regardless of fabrication methods, cuts, and any form of damage.

Cryogenic Resistance

Cryogenic resistance refers to a material’s level of ductility or toughness when subjected to sub-zero temperatures. Unlike other steel pipes, stainless ones have high cryogenic resistance.

Specifically, austenitic stainless steel pipes have a higher tensile strength at lower temperatures than at ambient temperatures. This type of stainless steel pipe also retains its toughness even at sub-zero temperatures.

Extreme Heat Resistance

Aside from remaining durable when subjected to low temperatures, stainless steel pipes can withstand extreme heat. When subjected to high temperatures, stainless steel pipes that contain a high concentration of chromium and/or high silicon, nitrogen, and rare earth elements remain durable. The chromium content of stainless steel pipes also allows the material to resist scaling even at high temperatures.

This property makes stainless steel pipes perfect for industrial applications, where it is often used in machines that handle high-temperature materials.

High Tensile Strength

Stainless steel pipes have higher tensile strength compared to other pipes made of mild steel. This means that a stainless steel pipe can withstand a higher level of stress before it reaches its breaking point.

Because of their high tensile strength, stainless steel pipes are often used in creating the structural support or framework of various infrastructures. This material can effectively support the weight of the building and resist internal forces, therefore ensuring the safety of everyone.

High Ductility

Another remarkable property of stainless steel pipes is their high ductility. This means that the material can be elongated or plastically deformed without any breakage. In other words, stainless steel is “softer” or more malleable than other types of steel.

Its high ductility makes stainless steel pipes perfect for architectural and construction applications. The material can be formed into different shapes to fulfill various purposes. It can be utilized as handrails, fences, roofs, and other structures.

Obtain Quality Stainless Steel Pipes for Your Project

Turn to Global Nexus Corporation for all your stainless steel pipe needs. We are one of the leading distributors of this material in the Philippines and have been in the steel trading industry for more than 25 years. Reach out to us to learn more about the types of stainless steel pipes we offer.

As manufacturing processes have evolved and become more complex, steel buyers’ options have expanded to suit many unique needs across a variety of industries.

But not all types of steel are equal. Piping industry professionals can become better buyers by examining the types of steel available today and understanding why some steels make great pipe and others do not.

This rundown should help.

Carbon steel

Steel is created when carbon is added to iron, which is relatively weak on its own. In modern industry, carbon is the most prominent additive to a ferrous material, but alloying elements of all sorts are common.

In fact, alloying elements are common even in piping products still considered to be carbon steel.

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), ferrous material is designated as carbon steel when its core makeup is specified to include no more than 1.65 percent manganese, 0.60 percent silicon and 0.60 percent copper and when no minimum content is specified for other alloying elements.

Carbon steel pipe enjoys wide use across many industries due to its strength and ease of workability. Because it contains relatively few alloying elements and in low concentrations, carbon steel pipe is relatively inexpensive.

However, it isn’t suited for extreme temperature or high-pressure service because the lack of alloying elements makes it less resistant to the accompanying stresses.

Alloy steel

Alloy steels are what they sound like: Steels that include specified amounts of alloying elements. Generally, alloying elements make steels stronger and more resistant to impact or stress. While the most common alloying elements include nickel, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, silicon and copper, many others are used in the production of steel.

There are countless combinations of alloys and concentrations in use in industry, with each combination designed to achieve specific qualities.

High-alloy types of steel are favored in the piping industry for service in extreme conditions, whether it be in hot or cold conditions or subject to rough use. That’s because the combination of chemistry and proper heat treating can yield strong yet ductile pipe that can take a beating. The oil & gas and power generation industries often favor alloy pipe due to its toughness.

Alloying elements also impart increased corrosion resistance to steel pipe. That makes it a leading choice for chemical companies as well.

Stainless steel

The term is a bit of a misnomer. There’s no one combination of iron and alloying elements that makes stainless steel what it is. Instead, stainless steel refers to the fact that products made from it do not rust.

Alloys in stainless steels can include chromium, manganese, silicon, nickel and molybdenum. These alloys work together to interact with oxygen in water and air to quickly form a thin but strong film over the steel that prevents further corrosion.

Naturally, stainless steel pipe is used in any industry where corrosion protection is necessary. While stainless steel pipe is essentially alloy pipe by another name, it is not well suited for extreme service unless it’s been appropriately heat treated to increase strength and impact resistance.

Due to its aesthetic appeal, stainless steel is often chosen if pipe must be visible in public or professional settings.

Tool steel

Tool steels are what turn other types of steel into products or equipment used in industry. They must be incredibly strong, tough, ductile and resistant to corrosion. They also must be able to retain cutting edges and maintain their shape in high temperatures. To achieve those qualities, these steels contain very high concentrations of alloying elements and are precisely heat treated.

Sometimes called super-alloys, tool steels are not well-suited for piping products. For one thing, incorporation of higher quantities of alloys makes tool steels more expensive to produce. For another, the amount of alloying elements present in tool steels make them harder to form into piping products. Finally, pipes don’t need cutting edges.

It’s cheaper and easier to use comparatively softer, lower-alloy steels to form pipe and then heat treat up to a specified hardness.

Learn more about types of steel in piping

The complex chemistry and metallurgy present in steel production can be hard to grasp, but it’s helped industries refine and improve their critical processes.

Become a better buyer by learning more about the types of steel well-suited for specific piping applications. Then, choose a supplier that offers stellar inventory, value-added services and experience on the world market.

American Piping Products has it all. Plus, our skilled experts are trained to gather detailed information to ensure you get exactly the pipe you need, when you need it. If you need help placing an accurate order, let us know. To see what’s included in our huge inventory, download our product catalog.

We’ve also published this in-depth buyer’s guide you can use as a resource as you consider your next piping purchase.

Getting the right pipe starts here.

Get the buyer's guide

Which type of manufactured steel pipe is the strongest?

Types of steel and their uses in the piping industry

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