All about steel pipes: Type, manufacturing process, and more

Steel is one of the most versatile materials, which is used in many applications including railing, wires, bars, angles, roofing sheets, auto components, etc. Likewise, pipes and tubes are another important application of steel. Some of the benefits of steel pipes include strength and durability.

Pipes made from steel are used in varied industries including infrastructure, oil & gas, automotive, transport and so on. Therefore, the demand for steel pipes is high in the country. According to a media report by Business World, the market size of steel pipes is estimated to be ₹50,000-55,000 crore.

Types of steel pipes

Steel pipes can be classified in two ways such as types of steel pipes according to type of steel used or types of steel pipes as per their manufacturing method.

According to the steel type

Steel pipes are made mainly from 4 types of steel. They are listed below:

Carbon steel pipes

Carbon steel pipes are the most common type of steel pipe. Since the amount of alloy material is lower, carbon steel pipes are easy to fabricate and weld. As a result, they are widely used in many industries. Pipes made of carbon steel are especially used in marine, oil & gas and automotive industries for transportation. They are not suitable for any high-pressure applications as they become less durable in extreme conditions. Carbon steel pipes are available in seamed and seamless types.

Stainless steel pipes

Stainless steel is another important material for manufacturing pipes. About 10-13% chromium is added to make it stainless steel. Since stainless steel is a highly corrosion resistant material, it is ideal to be used in extreme conditions and high pressures. Therefore, pipes made of stainless steel are widely used in sectors such as water purification, medical, marine, and so on.

Alloy steel pipes

Alloy steel pipes are made by the addition of different metals such as nickel, chromium, manganese, copper, etc. Depending on the use, the composition of the alloying element ranges between 1-50 weight percent. Moreover, it can be customised as per the requirement as mechanical properties, features, etc., change depending on the alloying element and its composition. Alloy steel pipes are generally used in sectors such as chemicals, petrochemicals, refineries, and so on.

Galvanised steel pipes

Galvanised steel pipes are mainly used for water distribution. Some of the advantages of galavanised steel is durability and corrosion resistance. Galvanised steel pipes are believed to last for 40-50 years. One of the disadvantages of pipes made from galvanised steel includes difficulty to cut and thread and install.

Also read: Steel tubing

According to a manufacturing method

On the basis of manufacturing methods, steel pipes can be differentiated into two categories.

• Seamless steel pipes
• Welded pipes

How are steel pipes made?

The processes of manufacturing seamless pipes and welded pipes are different. However, the initial process of making steel from iron ore to steel remains the same. Here is what happens next, the process of making seamless and welded types are made:

Seamless steel pipes: Steel pipes which have no welds on their surfaces are called seamless steel pipes. These pipes are made by heating steel billets and then moulding them in a cylinder shape. These cylinders are further heather and rolled to make seamless pipes.

Welded pipes: As the name suggests, these pipes are welded during the manufacturing process. To manufacture these pipes, first, steel slabs are heated. Then, they are hot rolled into skelp. And then, they are coiled and elongated. There are further three types of welded pipes namely, electric-resistance welded pipe or ERW pipe, Longitudinal welded pipe (LSAW) and spiral welded pipe.

Procuring steel pipes

Multiple small scale and large-scale companies manufacture steel pipes of various kinds. Depending on the requirement, you can directly procure from the respective manufacturer. Alternatively, you can procure steel products from Tata nexarc. You can quickly post your requirement such as type of requirement, quantity, etc. Evaluate quotes received from suppliers and choose the supplier that suits you the best. Pricing of steel pipes varies on type, size and quantity required. Roughly they are available in the range of ₹180-₹400/kg.

Conclusion: Choosing the right steel pipe

In order to select the right steel pipe, determine your requirements to select the right type of steel pipe for your project. There is a wide range of pipes available in the market. Apart from steel, pipes are made of PVC, copper, ABS and so on. Study and understand the wide range of products available in the market. Select the best one that suits your requirements.