Types of Stainless Steel Tubes
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is a type of metal that was invented by mixing some metals altogether. Stainless Steel
is a strong alloy that is combined of many metals. Metals like Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum,
Silicon, Aluminium, and most importantly Carbon are the components of this alloy. Stainless Steel is
very strong and effective all because of all the metals, chromium has 10-11% part in SS that gives a
gleaming property to the alloy, carbon has 0.03-1.00% part and it provides strength to the steel,
Molybdenum, and Nickel together make the SS resistant to corrosion and rust. Stainless Steel has
distinct features that make it easy to identify the metal. SS is a very shining alloy which is due to
Chromium at a certain ratio. The Stainless Steel is generally stored in the form of pipe, tubes, sheets,
plates, bars, rods, etc. All the other metals present in SS make it suitable for the application as it is a
durable metal and has accurate dimensions which means that it fits perfectly on the pipes and works
just fine. They do not require regular maintenance and are relatively light in weight which makes it
optimum to be used in Industries and Factories.
Tubes
Similar to pipes in purpose and somewhat in appearance Tubes are available in different shapes like square, rectangle, oval or some times triangle. Tubes are also generally circle but in USA it is mostly called tube and not pipe. Tubes are made up of several different metals like stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy, aluminium, monel, Hastelloy, etc. the tubes made of Stainless Steel are of course very good in performance and even in durability. The tubes are used in many industries due to its properties. Just like pipes even tubes are available as seamless or welded.
Types of Stainless Steel Tubes.
1) Austenitic- Austenitic is a stainless steel type where the chromium content is between 17-25%, Nickel is between 8-25%. The type is mainly non-magnetic and also cannot be heat treated. The cold working on this type delivers more and more strength. This type is usually series 300 and grades like 316 and 304 are Austenitic.
2) Martensitic- Is a series 400 of Stainless steel with chromium between 12-18%. Contrary to austenitic this type is magnetic and can be heat treated to be precise it is grade 410 and can resist light atmospheres and conditions.
3) Ferritic- Somewhat similar to martensitic the Ferritic type has exact content of Chromium but quite low carbon. The type is not heat treatable. The grade that is this type is 430.
4) Precipitation Hardening- Kind of like Austenitic and Martensitic this type has chromium between 12-28% and Nickel between 4-7%. Due to the availability of Nickel, the grade of stainless steel here is 630.
Uses and Applications of SS Tubes
The Austenitic type of tube is mostly used in the food and beverage industry, chemical equipment, surgical equipment, and architectural tools. The Martensitic is usually used for mechanical things, fasteners, pumps, shafts, etc. Ferritic is used for food processing, and Precipitation Hardening is used to make valves, gears, pump parts, bolts, saws, shafting.