Things That Can Affect the Quality of Seamless Pipes

Written by

Have you been using a piping system in your plant? Are the pipes seamless? Did you know that seamless pipes perform better than welded pipes?

Seamless tubes are steel pipes that have a high market demand for how they are produced. As you may already guess from the name, seamless tubes and pipes have no seams. The fabricators produce these pipes using long solid steel with circular cross-sections. The pipes have a smooth finish because they do not have any welded parts.

One of the main reasons you should choose seamless tubes and pipes over welded ones is that these pipes provide more benefits than any other piping solutions. However, there are a few things that are affecting the overall quality of the seamless tubes.

Therefore, if you are investing in pipes, you should know the factors you should be aware of.

Temperatures:

Since seamless pipes are produced after heating the metal cylinder, you need to ensure that the manufacturers use machinery that uniformly heats the billet.

You can expect uniformity in the wall thickness based on how the billet is heated. Also, heating temperatures can enhance or diminish the quality of steel pipes. You will notice a difference in the outer and inner surfaces of the pipes if there is a temperature fluctuation.

Even during the hot rolling process, the manufacturer’s heat plays a vital role. The temperature affects the mechanical properties of the metals. As a result, the surface, the diameters, and the quality of the pipes are compromised. So, when you contact a manufacturer, make sure to have a word about the temperature settings they use.

Adjustment process:

The first step of adjusting the pipes once the manufacturers are done is crucial to remove any impurities. During this process, the manufacturers modify the geometry and appearance of the seamless pipes you invest in. Hence, the adjustment process determines whether the impurities not removed during hot rolling are eliminated during adjustment.

Lubrication and cooling:

It would be best if you never forgot that seamless pipes must be cooled properly. If the suppliers do not cool down the metal pipes when ready, they may not last as long as you would expect them to. The manufacturers should use cooling beds to air-cool the metal pipes completely. Some producers of seamless tubes implement other methods of cooling the metal pipes in addition to natural cooling.

There are different methods by which you can expect the manufacturers to heat the pipes to cool them down in a controlled environment. For example, a seamless pipe manufacturer may use spheroidizing annealing – the process where the manufacturer heats the pipes to a specific temperature. The temperature may go above the point where the metal starts to form austenite by around 40° C. The supplier will then cool down the pipes so that they can reduce the rigidity of the pipes.

On the other hand, you may find that some manufacturers use diffusion annealing. They heat the metal pipes but do not let them melt. Keeping the seamless pipes warm for a more extended period changes the chemical composition to a certain degree. As a result, the manufacturers can offer you pipes and tubes that perform way better than their cheaper replacements.

Apart from the heat treatment, you must ensure that the manufacturers use proper lubrication. Lubrication helps the mandrel to pierce through the billet seamlessly. As a result, you get pipes with uniform thickness throughout their length. Better quality lubricants can also determine whether you get pipes with accurate diameters and wall thickness.

Let us make it clear. Suppose you need seamless pipe manufacturers to produce the pipes using 13-chrome steel. Even if you mix it with stainless steel to create an alloy, 13-chromium steel is challenging to work with. Hence, you need better lubrication so that the mandrel glides smoothly. Better lubrication also means that the adherence of the pipes becomes better.

Quality of the tools for manufacturing seamless pipes:

Manufacturers must use quality tools to produce seamless tubes and pipes. However, with the growing need for seamless tubes and pipes, many manufacturers have started to tap into this market. Unfortunately, only some of these fabricators have updated tools to fabricate flawless, seamless tubes. The better the tools manufacturers use, the better the quality of the pipes you will receive.

Better quality tools also mean that the manufacturers can run the processes efficiently. For example, the seamless pipes will roll properly during hot rolling so that the wall thickness is accurate. On the other hand, the pipes will also have a proper weight-to-strength ratio during cold drawing if the lubrication works well.

Quality tools are required not only for maintaining surface quality and dimensional accuracy but also so that the manufacturers can choose high-grade metal billets to start with fabrication.

Conclusion:

When investing in seamless tubes and pipes, you need to ensure that the manufacturers have a clear idea about what can impact the quality of fabrication. For example, while temperature is a crucial factor of seamless tube manufacturing processes, it must be controlled to achieve the best results.

Global Seamless Tubes & Pipes Pvt Ltd is a trusted name when choosing seamless pipe manufacturers in India. The company has a quality check process that allows the manufacturer to identify faulty products and get rid of them. The Howrah-based manufacturer also uses upgraded tools so that you get the best seamless tubes and pipes in India.

Article Categories:
Business

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *