Different Types of Stainless Steel Seamless Pipes

Stainless steel is one of the metal alloys that the manufacturers create using components like nickel, chromium, silicon, molybdenum, aluminum, and carbon. As you can understand, stainless steel is an engineered material. Hence, you get the best features of all metal components that manufacturers use to build it. Therefore, it is one of the ideal choices for producing seamless pipes.

Stainless steel is one of the strongest metals known for its extraordinary advantages. In addition, the metal is so sterile that you will see most equipment in the medical industry is made of stainless steel.

Also, its features, like corrosion resistance, durability, robustness, ease of production, etc., make stainless steel one of the most used metals on earth.

Besides, the metal is malleable so you can mold it in any shape. As a result, manufacturers can create many designs of seamless piping solutions.

Stainless steel is also able to bear the load, making it ideal for applications where load-bearing is a must. Installing stainless steel seamless pipes is easy. However, maintaining the pipes is even easier because of its smooth surface and anti-rust property.

There are different types of stainless steel available. Can you use any stainless steel to produce pipes? Let us find out.

Basic pipes:

The most common stainless steel is the one that you see in your daily life. Basic stainless steel is common in every aspect of life, from making utensils to producing steel pipes. However, even though the steel is basic, it has all the properties you can expect from stainless steel.

For example, seamless pipe manufacturers use basic stainless steel to produce pipes that are safe to use in a different environments.

The most basic stainless steel grades are 304 and 316. However, you can use these grades of steel for temperatures between 400° and 800°C and not more than that. As you can understand, basic steel pipes are not suitable for high-temperature applications.

Hydraulic line pipes:

Seamless pipe suppliers use stainless steel grades 304L and 304 to produce hydraulic line pipes. You can use these pipes in the petrochemical industry as well as in hydraulic systems. 304L and 304-grade stainless steel are suitable for high-temperature applications and ideal for high-pressure situations. Hence, using these pipes in the petrochemical industry proves to be safe.

You need corrosion-resistant pipes and strong enough to withstand the pressure normal in the gasoline industry. In addition, hydraulic pipes must be durable because the entire operation runs based on these pipes.

Pressure pipes:

As the name suggests, pressure pipes are meant to withstand more pressure than any other stainless steel pipes. Therefore, these pipes can sustain even in the most testing atmosphere where the pipes have to withstand pressure and heat at the same time. Seamless pipe manufacturers choose ferritic and austenitic type stainless steel for this type of use.

Austenitic stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, malleable, and hygienic because of its sterile properties. In addition, austenitic steel becomes non-magnetic when manufacturers anneal them. The feature is extremely beneficial because of its use in high-pressure areas.

On the other hand, ferritic stainless steel is chloride-resistant, making it ideal for use in high-chloride areas. While other types of stainless steel work best in high temperatures, ferritic steel is excellent even in low temperatures. It does not lose its strength or toughness when you expose them to low temperatures.

Aircraft stainless steel:

When seamless pipe suppliers and manufacturers produce stainless steel for use in aircraft, they choose nickel and chromium for creating the alloy. Both these metals are heat-resistant and anti-corrosion. However, aircraft are exposed to extreme weather conditions. While the aircraft flies, they produce extreme heat. At the same time, they are exposed to extreme cold because they are flying high at a low temperature.

Manufacturers produce pipes and tubes primarily by maintaining Aerospace Material Specifications, AMS, Military Specifications, or MS to produce stainless steel pipes for aircraft.

Mechanical pipes:

You need mechanical pipes for cylinders and bearings. Ideally, the pipes should be made from stainless steel to enhance their workability. Hence, pipe producers use A554 and ASTM A511 stainless steel. Both these types of steel pipes can withstand exposure to corrosive chemicals.

They can also withstand high temperatures. In addition, the dimensional accuracy is much higher in both these steel grades. As a result, seamless pipes made from A554 and ASTM A511 stainless steel grades are the most obvious choice for mechanical pipes.

These pipes are ideal for industries exposed to severe temperatures and harsh conditions. For example, you can use them in the automotive industry, food & beverages sector, water treatment, refineries, petrochemical industry, oil & gas transportation, and so on.

The final words:

Whether you want pipes and tubes for hydraulic uses or aircraft or manufacturing units, the quality of the pipes plays an important role. Therefore, you should always contact an experienced, reputable manufacturer who knows which steel grade they should use. The steel grade is vital when choosing seamless pipes for your projects.

It could be disastrous if you choose a stainless steel grade that cannot withstand extreme pressure and temperature for using it in the automobile sector. On the other hand, you do not want to invest in high-performance pipes when you can work with stainless steel grades ideal for low-temperature uses. High-performance stainless steel pipes cost more. To ensure that you choose steel grades as per your requirements, you should contact established seamless tubes and pipes manufacturers. Only a reputable manufacturer can guide you with the right choice.