Butt Weld Fittings Types and Material Specifications

Posted by Deepak Seth on November 30th, 2022

Pipes and tubes are connected with butt weld fittings (BWF). They are also known as pipe fittings, pipe clamps, and pipe junctions. Tube clamps, tube connectors, and elbow joints are all the butt types of weld fittings. Pipe and tube systems of different diameters can be joined using pipe butt welding fittings. The number of butt joints required depends on the system size. The joints are fused or butt welded at the ends to prevent leakage.  

Butt weld fittings are rectangular or round objects (called bodies). There are a variety of materials that can be used for pipe fittings, including copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Depending on the joint and region, they are made from different materials. Fittings are available in universal sizes to fit any pipe or butt weld tube fittings size.  

The tubing is soldered to the fitting and then inserted into a pipe where it can be connected to other sections of the pipe. Assembling the fittings correctly may take several minutes and require some skill. In time, hopefully, everyone gains efficiency with practice. 

What is a Butt Weld Fittings 

Welding is used to connecting the ends of pipes or fittings. Weldable steel pipe fittings can be used to branch off, change the direction of flow, attach auxiliary equipment, or reduce pipe size. 

Forged steel butt weld fittings are manufactured according to ANSI/ASME B16.9. 

Check the differences between socket weld fittings. 

Also known as welded pipe fittings 

Welded pipe fittings are also known as butt weld fittings. Compared to socket welds and threaded fittings, these would offer certain advantages when used in stainless steel and carbon steel.  

Unlike socket weld fittings, butt weld fittings come in sizes starting at 1/2 inch up to 72 inches. 

There are several types of Butt weld pipe fittings, like the general category of pipe fittings: 

Elbows with 45-degree or 90-degree buttwelds 

Tees and Reducing Tees, Reducers, Caps, and Crosses for buttwelding 

Butt weld Elbow 

The butt weld elbow is used to change fluid direction in pipeline systems. It has long radius (LR) and short radius (SR) types and has different degrees covering 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees. As a result, there are: 

LR 45-degree butt weld elbow: 

45-degree elbow with a long radius (1.5 x diameter) and a 45-degree change in fluid direction. 

LR 90-degree elbow: 

Long radius 90-degree steel pipe elbow (1.5 x Diameter). 

SR 45-degree elbow: Short radius (1 x diameter) elbow in 45 degrees, changing direction. 

SR 90-degree elbow: elbow with a short radius (1 x Dia). 

180-degree steel pipe tee 

Similar to an equal tee, the 90-degree branch has a smaller diameter than the straight pipe. It is used to install equipment or pipes that are smaller in size. 

  

Common material types of butt weld fittings 

Like socket weld fittings, butt weld fittings are now available as elbows, tees, outlets, reducers, and caps. These are some of the most common types of butt weld fittings and would be specified according to the schedule of pipe and nominal pipe fittings. 

Body material 

Butt weld fittings come in alloy, stainless, and carbon steel materials. Therefore, it usually starts with welded or seamless pipes. Multiple processes can be used to forge tees and elbows, among other shapes, by forging. 

Stainless steel butt weld fittings are usually in thin thickness 

As with normal pipes, butt weld fittings are available from Schedule 10 to Schedule 160. Butt weld fittings are more common in stainless steel. The reason for this would be its cost advantage. In stainless steel fittings, schedule 10 fittings would also be more common. 

 

 

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Deepak Seth

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Deepak Seth
Joined: September 6th, 2022
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