The two types of carbon steel pipes are made with a specific ratio of carbon to iron. Because of its low carbon concentration, it is an expensive material. These carbon steels have a high level of strength, workability, durability, and ductility. Additionally, high pressure cannot be used with these pipes. Gas, oil, and other substances can be transported from one location to another using carbon steel pipes. Similarly, these pipes function well in the ship and automobile industries.

There are various types of carbon steel pipes on the market, each serving a different purpose. Every type of carbon steel pipe has distinct characteristics and functions, such as strength, wall thickness, corrosion resistance, temperature, and pressure tolerance. Furthermore, different manufacturing processes are available, and product strength and pressure capacity vary.

Stick around as we dive more into the types of carbon steel, what carbon steel pipes are, and how to choose between them.

What Is Carbon Steel Pipe?

Carbon steel is an iron-carbon steel alloy that is used to make long-lasting carbon steel piping. Pipe made of carbon steel is utilized in a wide variety of heavy-duty industries, including infrastructure, distillers, ships, and chemical fertilizer equipment. Carbon steel’s ability to withstand stress and strength makes it an attractive material for these applications.

Carbon steel piping is both safe and long-lasting. It is perfect for use in structural applications due to its resistance to shock and insensitivity to pressure and extreme weather.

Due to carbon steel’s extreme tensile strength, carbon steel pipe can be manufactured to be both thin and lightweight while still carrying substantial loads. As a result, carbon steel piping is a cost-effective material. Carbon steel is advantageous in that it is recyclable, and thus, less of it is required to accomplish the same result, and it is also cost-effective because of its low environmental impact.

Because it is easy to make, carbon steel piping can be used for many different things. It can be produced in a range of thicknesses and sizes. It is also simple to cut and bend to fit wherever it is required. Also, it’s simple to attach to other pipe fittings like joints and valves.

Types Of Carbon Steel Pipe

There are various types of carbon steel pipes, but we will focus on seamless carbon steel pipe and welded carbon steel pipe.

The most common type of standard pipe used today is carbon steel pipe. They are a type of tubular goods that are manufactured to various specifications and standards. Pipes are sold in nominal pipe size increments ranging from 1/8″ to 72″. The welded pipe made of carbon steel and the seamless pipe made of carbon steel are the two types of pipes used most frequently.

Welded pipe is also known as ERW (Electric Resistance Welded) pipe. Pipes made from carbon steel are typically welded together, and A53 is the most widely used specification for such products. Seamless pipe is manufactured without the use of welding. The A106B specification is the one that is most frequently used for seamless carbon steel pipe.

Carbon steel pipe is classified according to its properties and chemical composition. However, the process of making a seamless pipe out of carbon steel is more time-consuming and labor-intensive than that of making a welded steel pipe, which means that carbon steel pipes are more affordable. Because of their increased thickness and high stress resistance, these pipes are well-suited for demanding tasks.

Carbon Steel Seamless Pipe

People love these types of carbon steel pipes because they are less weighty, don’t rust, are well-made, and have intricate details. The high strength and pressure capacity of carbon steel seamless pipe make it a useful tool for many industrial applications. In addition, these pipes are an excellent choice for use in the railroad industry, the oil and gas industry, the mining industry, boiler operations, and the automobile industry. The pipe has a superior finish and exceptional operational capacity.

Carbon seamless pipe, on the other hand, does not have any seams or welds along its length like carbon steel welded pipe does. To explain it another way, the seamless pipe is made by piercing a solid round billet, which results in the creation of a hollow seamless pipe. There are two primary techniques that are used to manufacture seamless pipe: Hot Rotary Piercing and Extrusion Process Method

The production of a seamless hot rolled steel pipe begins with the forging of a billet, followed by perforating, rolling, and shaping the pipe. An industrial extrusion process is used to produce the tubing, which is then put to use in the production of large-diameter pipes with thick walls and seamless steel pipes with large diameters.

Most of the time, the hot rotary piercing method is used to make pipes that don’t have any seams. During this process, hot billets are passed over a mandrel or piercing plug while being forced through heavy rotating rollers. The hole is created by penetrating the seamless cylindrical billets with the piercing plug.

On the other hand, cold-drawn seamless steel pipes make use of cold-drawn technology, which is appropriate for pipes that have a small diameter and thin walls because these pipes have a lower material strength. Cold-drawn seamless steel pipes are manufactured using this technology. It is also helpful when the objective is to produce a stunning pipe that has a smooth interior surface. The seamless steel pipes can only be rolled during the extrusion process if they have a low alloy structure or are made of carbon structural steel, and carbon structural steel is not an option.

When making certain types of seamless steel pipes, the manufacturing process can sometimes cause the steel to harden; in these instances, the manufacturer will not use heat treatment methods.

Carbon Steel Welded Pipe

Carbon steel welded pipe is a type of carbon steel. Approximately 2.1% of the total weight of the atmosphere is made up of carbon. The addition of carbon to a product makes it harder and more durable, but it also makes pipes less ductile, which can cause problems during the manufacturing process. These welded pipes made of carbon steel exhibit a high level of hardness and strength.

Carbon-welded steel is very malleable, and it also has the benefit of being the least expensive. Because of this, it shows itself to be a great choice for applications that require flexibility. In contrast to its lower version, the percentage of carbon that a high-carbon pipe contains is limited to a range between 0.61% and 1.5%. Higher amounts of carbon in carbon steel welded pipe result in superior hardness and tend to be much stronger, but they are less ductile.

Carbon steel welded pipes are always available because they are easy to make, and their raw materials are cheap and easy to get. As a result of this, it is one of the metals that is utilized all over the world the most. It is used in a variety of different industries, as well as the production of a large number of different goods. The SSAW pipe, the carbon steel pipe, and the LSAW pipe are all types of welded steel pipes that fall under the ASTM or API 5L standards.

ERW pipe is often mistaken for seamless steel because it doesn’t have any fusion metals, its weld seam is sometimes hard to see, and it doesn’t have any visible ridges. On the other hand, a double-submerged arc weld, also known as a DSAW, leaves visible traces of weld beads, which, depending on the application method, can be removed using one of several different processes.

How To Choose Between CS Seamless Pipe Or CS Welded Pipe

Reasonable decisions should be made during application, taking into account the similarities and differences between carbon steel seamless pipes and carbon steel welded pipes, in order to achieve results that are economical, beautiful, and reliable.

  • Good surface effects are usually needed when carbon steel welded pipes are used as product pipes, decorative pipes, or prop pipes.
  • Carbon steel welded pipes are typically used for heating hot water or steam, as well as for transporting fluids under pressures that are generally lower than normal, such as water, gas, oil, air, and low-pressure systems.
  • Carbon steel seamless pipes should be used for pipelines used in industrial engineering, large-scale fluid-transport equipment, and pipelines on power plants and nuclear power plant boilers that require high pressure, high temperature, and high strength.
  • Carbon steel welded pipes made of carbon steel are typically used for transporting liquids at pressures lower than 0.8 MPa, whereas seamless pipes can be used for transporting liquids at pressures higher than 0.8 MPa. Utilizing welded pipes will prove to be the more cost-effective option if the required pressure is not particularly high.

Depending on the types of carbon steel, the environment should determine which type you go for. In a less corrosive climate, carbon steel welded pipe is fine, but carbon steel seamless pipe will last longer in a highly corrosive environment.

Earlier orders allow you to budget and buy the right pipes. Send your desired pipe specs, get a quote, and get your shipment as soon as possible.

Always get a professional opinion, even if you know what you want. Someone with decades of experience can help you budget and buy correctly.