Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Ins and Outs of Stainless Steel Tubing

The pipelines which run underground (or out in the open) need to be strong and able to withstand pressure from external, natural as well as manmade, sources.

There are many kinds of pipes. While most people are used to seeing circular pipes, there are also varieties that are rectangular or square in nature. These pipes or tubes need to be chosen very carefully. They need to be suited to the purpose which they are going to be used for. The material used to construct these pipes is very important. The most popular of them is stainless steel. While tubes are made of other metals as well, stainless steel tubing wins hands down.

How is stainless steel tubing made?

These tubes are constructed out of a combination of various elements. The main additives used are chromium and nickel. Stainless steel tubes are iron-based alloys which are constructed in two ways: seamless and welded. The former begins in an electric arc furnace. The next step is casting the metal in an ingot or a bloom after which it is transformed into a tube by using a couple of elongated rollers. The latter process of tubing involves pouring hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel into a tubing manufacturer.

What are the advantages of using stainless steel tubing?

As mentioned before stainless steel tubes have a large amount of chromium in them. This addition makes these tubes anti-corrosive in nature. Oxidation is also kept at bay. Fluid systems are made of stainless steel tubing because of this quality. Another reason for its popularity is its ability to withstand high temperatures. As these tubes do not rust their maintenance costs remain quite low. Once installed, they can give you good service over a prolonged period of time.

There are various types of stainless steel which are used for different purposes. Tubes made out of Type 304 are mainly used in paper mills, food processing units and some other industries. Whereas, Type 318 has a higher resistant value and used in factories which deal with highly corrosive liquids like acid, saltwater, sulphur water, etc. The Internet is the best place to be shopping for stainless steel tubing.

Stainless steel tubing serves a variety of purposes and is used extensively in plumbing. PVC pipes and tubes are also used but they cannot withstand corrosion the way stainless steel does. However, perfect installation is also important if you want these tubes to function properly.

About the Author

The best in stainless steel tubing can be procured online from the website of Metals For A Steel.

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