What is a Seamless Pipe and how are they manufactured
A seamless pipe is a pipe manufactured using long cylindrical steel or a billet. The manufacturing process begins by heating the cylindrical piece of steel. A tool called a ‘mandrel’ is inserted through the middle of the steel cylinder. Then the cylinder is rolled and lengthened out until the desired shape, size, and length is achieved. The wall thickness of the pipe is an important attribute that needs to be considered.
Advantages of Seamless Steel pipes
- As its name suggests, Carbon Steel Seamless Pipes, do not have any weld joints. They are manufactured from a single piece of metal and do not have components joined and attached to them using welding methods.
- Unlike welded pipes, seamless pipes are not vulnerable to failure at welded joint locations.
- Seamless Pipes can take on greater pressure than welded pipes. The welding methods have improved over the years but still enable welded pipes to take up only 20 % pressure compared to that of seamless pipes.
- Seamless pipes are visually better looking than welded pipes as they are smooth and have no joints.
- Seamless pipes can skip weld integrity tests as they do not undergo any welding procedure.
- There is no annealing or heat treatment required for seamless pipes as it hardens naturally during the manufacturing process.
- A Seamless pipe can always substitute for a welded pipe. But a welded pipe should never replace a seamless pipe as seamless pipes are way stronger and replacement can affect the structural strength and integrity of the product or structure.
- Seamless pipes are way more resistant to corrosion compared to welded pipes. Since they do not require any treatments or welding, they aren’t exposed to additional impurities to strengthen or enhance any properties. Seamless pipes are also more malleable than welded pipes and have fewer manufacturing technical defects.
PQF Seamless Pipes
PQF or Premium Quality Finishing seamless pipes are manufactured using advanced technology and machinery. It created high-quality pipes for both high alloy and light wall seamless pipes.
Cold Drawn Seamless Pipes
Cold drawn mills are used to manufacture seamless pipes of smaller sizes. The Cold forming process increases the yield and tensile strength of the pipe. But the toughness of the pipe is affected in this process.
Cold Rolled Seamless Pipes
This method enables engineers to stretch large-sized pipes to the required size at room temperature. It has a precise finish with a shiny finish and an attractive appealing surface appearance.
