Stainless steel pipe products.
Pipe is a hollow round product made by forming stainless strip and longitudinally welding it (TIG or laser), or by drawing it seamless. Process pipe is defined by nominal size (DN/NPS) and schedule wall thickness; decorative and structural tube by outside diameter and wall thickness.
Process pipe is used in food, dairy, pharmaceutical and chemical lines; decorative and structural tube in railings, handrails and architectural structures. 304 is common for food contact and interior work, 316 in chloride and marine exposure; 430 is generally decorative and interior. On welded pipe, the weld zone can be restored by solution annealing after welding or by pickling and passivation.
Thickness, size and tolerance values vary by product form; exact values are confirmed during the quotation.
A selection guide based on general industry knowledge. Which grades are supplied is confirmed in the quotation.
Food and beverage lines, railings, plumbing. For welded process lines, low-carbon 304L may be preferred.
Chemical and pharmaceutical processes, marine environments, chloride-bearing waters.
Exhaust and high-temperature heat lines: preferred for resistance to intergranular corrosion because it is titanium-stabilised.
Interior decorative and architectural tube. Limited in chloride and aggressive environments.
Service centre lines that process this product.
Pipe is sized by nominal diameter (DN/NPS) and schedule, tube by outside diameter and wall thickness. Pipe sizing is typically used in process piping, tube sizing in mechanical and decorative applications. In everyday speech the two are often both called pipe.
Welded pipe is made from strip, is covers a wide size range. Seamless pipe is specified for high pressure or heavy service where the seam is considered critical. The choice follows the specification and operating conditions.
Both are austenitic grades. 316 contains roughly 2 - 2.5% molybdenum, which raises resistance to chloride and pitting corrosion. In water and food lines 304 is often sufficient; in marine, salt water and chloride-bearing processes 316 is preferred.
Welding heat leaves heat tint and an oxide layer in the zone, which can lower corrosion resistance. Pickling and passivation or mechanical cleaning restores the protective chromium oxide layer. This is common practice in food and pharmaceutical lines.
