As we all know, seamless tubes have been on the market for many years. Different sectors use these tubes and pipes for the benefits they offer. These tubes are resistant to corrosion, long-lasting, and possess high strength. Pipe producers also produce these pipes and tubes using different steel grades. Hence, sectors like automobile, aviation, petrochemical, oil & gas, power generation plants, and many more choose these pipes and tubes.
Industries can choose between cold-rolled and hot-rolled seamless pipes depending on how manufacturers produce them and their requirements. Let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages along with the applications of hot-rolled pipes. Knowing these can help the user to pick their choice.
Hot-rolled Seamless pipes:
As the name suggests, pipe fabricators produce these pipes using the hot rolling process. They heat the tubes to the point beyond their recrystallization temperature. Thus, they can roll the tubes to give them the length and wall thickness users require. For example, the wall thickness and diameter of the aviation pipes will not match the pipes users use in the petrochemical industry. Hence, it is the responsibility of the manufacturers to produce pipes with desired length and diameter. Pipe suppliers generally use stainless and carbon steel to produce hot-rolled pipes.
Properties:
Like any other piping solution, seamless tubes and pipes also have some properties. Depending on the method pipe providers use, the properties keep changing. Here are the properties users can expect from hot-rolled steel pipes.
Dimensional Accuracy:
Hot rolling process involves heating the pipes to their recrystallization point. Hence, manufacturers can achieve the dimensional accuracy users look for in the pipes with ease. Heating the pipes makes them easy to modify. As a result, pipe suppliers get accurate dimensions and wall thickness.
Better surface finish:
The surface of hot-rolled steel pipes has a much better finish in comparison with other types of pipes. The surface is a smooth finish. Heat treatment eliminates defects in the pipes. As a result, hot rolling produces fewer faulty pipes.
Better strength and lasting power:
Since pipe producers use heat to produce these pipes, their chemical and physical properties change to a certain degree. The metal in the pipes becomes denser and more structured. They become stronger. Their durability also increases significantly.
Improved mechanical properties:
As mentioned, heat treatment changes the mechanical properties of stainless steel seamless pipes. It makes them more durable, robust, and tough. It means that these pipes can withstand more pressure than other pipes.
Uniform shape and size:
Heat treatment allows pipe producers to achieve the shapes and sizes more accurately. They can also maintain uniformity throughout the length of the pipes.
Applications of hot-rolled seamless pipes:
Multiple industries choose seamless pipes and tubes for their superior usability. These tubes are great for structural applications, equipment, pipelines, etc. Here are some uses of these pipes:
Structural uses:
From the construction business to building bridges, structural applications require robust tubes. Hot-rolled steel pipes are ideal for these applications.
Pipelines:
Whether users need pipelines for oil & gas transportation or transferring fluids from one place to another, they need a reliable pipeline. Seamless tubes and pipes offer safe transportation of hazardous fluids.
Machine equipment:
Seamless steel pipes and tubes are the best choices for any type of mechanical equipment. Multiple machines can be produced from these tubes, from cranes to processing machines, conveyors, and exhaust pipes.
Heat exchangers:
Heat exchangers produce immense heat. Hence, these pieces of equipment need a piping solution that can withstand the heat.
Automobile:
Apart from the exhaust system, drive shafts, suspension systems, axles, etc., also require seamless pipes.
Advantages:
Here are the advantages of seamless pipes and tubes:
Cost-effective:
Seamless pipes are cost-effective solutions. The production process does not require many specialized tools. As a result, the production costs are pretty lower in comparison with other types of pipes.
High rate of production:
Manufacturers produce a huge number of hot-rolled seamless pipes. The reason is that most industries choose hot-rolled pipes.
Consistent shape:
Hot-rolled pipes have a more consistent wall thickness because heat-treating the pipes allows pipe fabricators to achieve the exact shapes.
High mechanical properties:
The mechanical properties of seamless pipes are quite accurate. Their strength, lasting power, and robustness are the qualities that differentiate them from most other types of tubes.
Disadvantages:
There are a few disadvantages of the hot rolling process that manufacturers and users must keep in mind.
Limited designs:
Pipe fabricators cannot produce different shapes or sizes using the hot rolling process. There is a limitation in producing various hot-rolled stainless steel seamless pipe designs.
Less control over surface quality:
Pipe fabricators have limited control over surface quality when they produce pipes and tubes using hot rolling. As a result, a few pipes may not have a smooth surface finish.
Surface defects:
Since the hot rolling process involves the use of high heat, it may sometimes develop signs of decay, such as scaling, pitting, etc.
Conclusion:
Even though there are some disadvantages to producing hot-rolled pipes, these pipes are necessary for multiple industries. From petrochemical to automobiles, different sectors depend on these tubes and pipes.
Due to their constant need in various sectors, pipe providers produce many hot-rolled seamless pipes. Hence, these pipes are available at any point in time. Besides, these are cost-effective. Hence, small, medium, and large businesses can easily purchase these pipes and tubes.