Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy. The chromium in stainless steel creates a coating that shields the metal and self-heals in oxygen. Stainless steel is often rolled or formed into tubes or pipes for use in multiple industries. The circular shape of stainless steel pipes makes them incredibly strong. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Cada Stainless & Alloys
Chester, NY | 845-469-3899Cada Stainless & Alloys has the stainless steel tubing that you need. We also specialize in the supply of stainless steel strips and coils, providing many finishing options, processing options, and other customization options.
Stainless Shapes, Inc.
Elgin, IL | 800-748-9811At Stainless Shapes, we want to prove to you that ours is the best price, delivery and service for quality stainless steel tubing, bar stock, hot roll wire rod, hex bar and squares. Round, rectangle, square, welded, seamless and polished stainless steel tubing. Many grades. Call for a fast, accurate quote.
Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers. We don’t want customers who use us one time, we want to establish lifelong relationships with customers that last generations. Contact us for more info!
Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494metalmen supplies polished and mill finished Stainless Steel tube and pipe. We have access to unique inventories and have well-worn relationships with mills and custom producers. Our broad experience enables us to address most every supply challenge. Call us for prompt quotes and on-time deliveries.
TW Metals, Inc.
Exton, PA | 800-545-5000Built on 100 years of history, TW Metals maintains an extensive, highly responsive distribution network for what you need, when you need it. Stainless, carbon, aluminum, nickel, titanium. Coil, Sheet, Rod, Bar, Wire, Tubing, Pipe, Specialty Products & Extrusions. Custom and off-the-shelf long products.
How Stainless-steel Pipes Are Made
Stainless steel is created from nickel, iron ore, chromium, silicon, molybdenum, and other raw components fused together. The manufacturing process of the stainless-steel pipes goes down in several stages, which can be done by hot rolling or cold rolling.
Automatic rolling mills are used to make hot-rolled stainless steel seamless pipes. First, manufacturers take a solid tube blank and inspect the surface to remove defects. Next, the solid tube blank is cut to order, heated in a heating furnace, and punched.
Manufacturers use cold rolling or cold drawing to make smaller seamless pipes. Cold-rolling is usually done on a two-roll mill. Stainless steel tubes with small diameters can also be made through extrusion.
Types of Stainless Steel used In Piping
There are several stainless steel pipes present in the market today. When the microstructure of stainless steel is altered, its characteristics also change. Stainless steel can be categorized as austenitic, martensitic, duplex, super duplex, precipitation-hardened, and ferritic.
Applications
Stainless steel is frequently used for desalination because of its strong corrosion resistance. Sanitizing chemicals won’t destroy stainless steel pipes, so pharmaceutical firms use them extensively. Stainless steel pipes are used in the dairy industry and food processing.
Stainless steel pipes are an obvious choice for low maintenance and corrosion-resistant applications. These pipes can be found in products like heat exchangers, fluid piping, LP/HP heaters, automobiles, evaporators, digesters, and surface condensers.
Advantages of Stainless-Steel Pipes
- They have a higher strength-to-weight ratio.
- Compared to steel, stainless steels are significantly more resistant to erosion-corrosion brought on by high flow rates and particulate matter. As a result, manufacturers can pump various media through stainless steel pipes at high speeds without damaging the pipes.
- Compared to corroded or old cement-lined steel pipes, stainless steel maintains low hydraulic friction qualities, reducing water pressure losses and lowering pumping costs.
- Pipelines are easier to handle and install because stainless steels have good elasticity and can be bent and welded into lightweight shapes.
Disadvantages of Stainless-Steel Pipes
- Stainless steel pipes are much more expensive.
- They have very poor thermal conductivity.
