Stainless steel pipe applications, advantages and characteristic

Posted by oilandgaspipe on March 12th, 2020

Stainless steel has been one of the world's most popular and versatile materials since it was developed more than 100 years ago, and is now essential to a variety of industries. This includes many specific uses for 304 Stainless Steel Tube and pipes. In the early 1800s, it was recognized that the combination of iron and chromium provided excellent oxidation resistance, but it took another century to finally focus on the right formula.

What are the advantages of stainless steel?

Clearly, the main attribute of stainless steel is its corrosion resistance. Different alloys provide different levels of resistance. For example, 304 Stainless Steel Pipe, probably the most popular stainless steel alloy in the world, offers an excellent level of corrosion resistance. Instead, applications used in marine environments should rely on alloys such as 316, which probably have the added benefit of 2% molybdenum.

Stainless steel has other advantages. Compared to regular steel, A335 P22 stainless steel alloys offer higher low temperature toughness, higher work hardening, higher strength and hardness, higher ductility, more attractive appearance, and lower maintenance costs. Not surprisingly, stainless steel is so popular in various industries, including pipelines.

Because the behaviour of each alloy is different, it is important to distinguish them. Stainless steel alloys fall into five different families, each characterized by unique properties. The five families are austenite, ferrite, martensite, duplex, and precipitation hardening.

What is stainless steel alloy made of?

By definition, stainless steel is an iron alloy containing at least 10.5% chromium. There are numerous alloy types available on the market, each with a different exact chemical composition. Alloying elements such as nickel, molybdenum, titanium, carbon, nitrogen and copper can enhance the strength, formability and other properties of stainless steel.

To qualify for A335 P11 stainless steel, certain environments must adhere to corrosion resistance guidelines. This resistance comes from the outer layer of metal chromium oxide. This microscopic surface film is known as a passivation layer because it reacts spontaneously with oxygen in the surrounding air and prevents additional corrosion. In addition, the layer can repair itself in the event of damage such as scratches or notches.

316 stainless steel: Grade 316 stainless steel has a molybdenum support grade that is much more resistant to corrosive abuse than grade 304. This is especially noticeable in high sulphuric, hydrochloric, formic and tartaric environments, which are generally followed by bites. Stainless Steel is very versatile. In addition to its strong forming and welding properties, it can be folded and rolled up, making it easy to convert to a range of applications. In addition, 316 stainless steel is more resistant than 304 in high temperature environments.

Characteristic of 316 stainless steel

316 Stainless Steel Pipe can be easily welded in all commercial processes. If forged or hammered, annealing is recommended after these processes to prevent undue corrosion.

Although not hardened by heat treatment, it has been shown that cold working of alloys increases hardness and tensile strength.

Sometimes industry experts know it as marine stainless steel because of its extraordinary ability to withstand pitting.

316 Stainless Steel Tube can be used in applications requiring non-magnetic metals due to its unique composition.