Like any other type of pipe, seamless tubes and pipes are also long, tubular hollow metal bars. They are seamless because of the production process manufacturers follow. Pipe fabricators source solid steel billets, the base of seamless piping solutions.
Next, they heat the billets and follow different methods to produce pipes. For example, some manufacturers choose the extrusion method. On the other hand, some pipe suppliers choose a probing method. No matter which method pipe providers choose, the primary characteristic of these pipes is being seamless.
What are Seamless Pipes?
Seamless pipes are a special kind of steel pipes that don’t have any welded joints or seams running along their length. They are made by creating a hollow tube from a solid cylindrical block of steel. This tube is then processed further to get the right dimensions and smooth surface finish. Seamless pipes have several benefits, such as being stronger, more resistant to corrosion, and capable of handling high pressure and temperature conditions. Because of their smooth interior surface, seamless pipes are widely used in industries like oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation, and automotive, where it’s important to transport fluids reliably and efficiently.
Manufacturers can choose different materials, such as stainless steel, carbon alloy, aluminum, titanium, etc., to produce these pipes and tubes. When the concern is stability and strength of the pipes, seamless pipes are more reliable than welded pipes.
According to line pipe suppliers, the price of seamless pipes is more than welded pipes. However, these pipes last much longer than their counterparts. Also, they offer more support than any other type of pipe.
Here we have discussed a few of the features of seamless piping solutions:
Variation in diameters: Unlike welded pipes, manufacturers can produce seamless pipes with narrow diameters. Once they produce the pipes from steel billets, they can increase the diameters of the pipes while reducing the wall thickness.
On the other hand, if industry requirements call for pipes with smaller diameters, manufacturers choose thin mandrels to pierce the billets to create pipes with smaller diameters. Pipe fabricators can produce pipes with a wide range of diameters, from 2 to 48 inches.
Better weldability: Line pipes offer much better weldability than other piping solutions. It is because manufacturers use ASTM standard pipes to produce line pipes.
While seamless pipes do not have welded edges, weldability is a sign of the compression capacity of the pipes. The more weldable a piping material is, the better its compression capacity.
Also Read: What size is MS Square Pipe?
Superior performance: Welded pipes often cannot perform under high pressure. The welded edges cause the pipes to develop cracks. Hence, industries cannot transport hazardous fluids using welded pipes.
On the contrary, seamless pipes have no seams through which fluids can escape. Hence, there is no chance of leakage, nor the process loses pressure. As a result, most industries prefer using seamless pipes for high-pressure usage and to deliver hazardous fluids.
Dense metal: Metal density plays a significant role in the performance of the pipes. The denser the metal, the more reliable the pipes are.
Welded pipe manufacturers use metal sheets to roll them and produce pipes. However, seamless pipe manufacturers produce seamless tubes and pipes from solid billets. To ensure the quality of the pipes, they use superior metal with high density. It makes seamless pipes less porous as well.
Smooth surface: Even though it may seem less important, a smooth surface is essential for many industries. For example, the aviation industry requires a tubing solution with a smooth surface to ensure an efficient flow of fluids.
On the other hand, the automobile industry requires pipes and tubes with smooth surfaces because they enhance the appearance of the vehicles. Welded pipes do not have the smooth surface these industries require.
Corrosion resistance: Many welded pipe manufacturers choose stainless steel for its corrosion resistance. However, welded pipes still show signs of wear and tear often. On the contrary, line pipe suppliers choose stainless steel to produce corrosion-resistant piping solutions.
Why the same material provides two different results? The answer lies in the manufacturing process. Welded edges are often responsible for accumulating moisture and other harsh chemicals. These set in erosion.
However, seamless pipes do not have any welded edges where chemicals can get stuck. In addition, the smooth surface of the pipes allows fluids to flow without getting accumulated in specific places. Thus, seamless pipes are corrosion-resistant.
Final thoughts:
Seamless pipe manufacturers produce these pipes and tubes for multiple sectors. While the use may differ, some factors remain the same for every industry. For example, each industry requires the piping solutions to last long, be corrosion resistant, perform better, etc.
Seamless tubes and pipes offer all the benefits these industries require. Hence, industries like petroleum, aviation, automobile, manufacturing, construction, etc., rely heavily on seamless piping solutions. Also, experienced and reputed suppliers always test their materials to ensure the pipes are flawless and ideal for each industry.