SEAMLESS STAINLESS STEEL PIPE
SEAMLESS STAINLESS STEEL PIPE - industrial steel pipe
Sunny steel has Stainless steel pipes for oil cracking inventory to fulfill your project’s needs, buy Stainless steel pipes for oil cracking at best price & fast delivery.
The material of the stainless steel round bar is from Jiuli and Baosteel China, we control the quality from the very start.
Typically uses types 304, 316, 405, and 410. 304 is excellent between 260-399C (500-750F) while 400-series stainless steels offer resistance at higher ranges, up to 343-371C (650-700F.) 304 also provides excellent naphthenic acid corrosion resistance.
The following are some of the most common corrosive compounds encountered in the various processes employed across the oil and gas industry.
This puts stainless steel in a position that few other metals can match. While carbon steel is suitable for some low-temperature, -pressure, or -corrosion situations, the variety of stainless steel alloys available ensures there is an option to provide protection against even the most corrosive oil and gas refinement processes.
We polished three times to make sure the surface is perfect bright and smooth, and without any deficiency in quality.
We have precision equipment to test according to the standard required and PMI test to check the material before delivery.
Stainless steel pipe is one of the more standardized materials in the building and engineering industries. The thickness of the pipe walls, diameter of the pipe and even the chemical composition are all written as part of the American National Standards Institute standards, which is just one of multiple standards available.
Wall Thickness
Stainless steel pipe categorized by the American National Standards Institute uses the term schedule in reference to the pipe's wall thickness. Despite this standardization, the wall thickness is not the same for every diameter of pipe. Instead, the schedule refers to the general strength of the pipe. Therefore, a schedule 40S stainless pipe has a wall thickness of approximately 1.73mm for a pipe with outside diameter of 10.3mm but increases to 9.53mm for a pipe of the same schedule but 323.9mm in diameter. There are four general schedules for stainless pipe; 5S, 10S, 40S and 80S.
Diameter
Within each schedule of pipe there are multiple diameters of stainless steel pipe standardized by ANSI. These diameters range from 10.3mm (or .405 inches) to 323.9mm (or 12.75 inches). It is important to note that some diameters are not available in every schedule. For instance, the smallest diameters are not available in schedule 5S and many diameters are very difficult to find in some schedules, or very expensive if they are available.
Materials
Though ANSI standardizes stainless steel pipe, there are multiple formulas of stainless steel available. The two primary steels used in the manufacture of stainless steel pipe are ANSI 304 stainless steel and ANSI 316. Both steels have similar chemistry and differ only slightly in the amount of chromium in the steel.
To simplify grade identification and align with international designations, China adopted the “Universal Code System for Steel and Alloy Grades” (e.g. 06Cr19Ni10 corresponds to 304). While chemical compositions vary slightly between standards, each grade is governed by its national standard.
| No | China (GB) | Japan (JIS) |
USA | Korea (KS) |
Europe (EN Werkstoff) |
India (IS) |
Australia | Taiwan (CNS) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old | New (2007) | SUS | ASTM | UNS | STS | W.-Nr. | IS | Approx. | CNS | |
| Austenitic stainless steel | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1Cr17Mn6Ni5N | 12Cr17Mn6Ni5N | SUS201 | 201 | S20100 | STS201 | 1.4372 | 10Cr17Mn6Ni4N20 | 201-2 | 201 |
| 2 | 1Cr18Mn8Ni5N | 12Cr18Mn9Ni5N | SUS202 | 202 | S20200 | STS202 | 1.4373 | – | – | 202 |
| 3 | 1Cr17Ni7 | 12Cr17Ni7 | SUS301 | 301 | S30100 | STS301 | 1.4319 | 10Cr17Ni7 | 301 | 301 |
| 4 | 0Cr18Ni9 | 06Cr19Ni10 | SUS304 | 304 | S30400 | STS304 | 1.4301 | 07Cr18Ni9 | 304 | 304 |
| 5 | 00Cr19Ni10 | 022Cr19Ni10 | SUS304L | 304L | S30403 | STS304L | 1.4306 | 02Cr18Ni11 | 304L | 304L |
| 6 | 0Cr19Ni9N | 06Cr19Ni10N | SUS304N1 | 304N | S30451 | STS304N1 | 1.4315 | – | 304N1 | 304N1 |
| 7 | 0Cr19Ni10NbN | 06Cr19Ni9NbN | SUS304N2 | XM21 | S30452 | STS304N2 | – | – | 304N2 | 304N2 |
| 8 | 00Cr18Ni10N | 022Cr19Ni10N | SUS304LN | 304LN | S30453 | STS304LN | – | – | 304LN | 304LN |
| 9 | 1Cr18Ni12 | 10Cr18Ni12 | SUS305 | 305 | S30500 | STS305 | 1.4303 | – | 305 | 305 |
| 10 | 0Cr23Ni13 | 06Cr23Ni13 | SUS309S | 309S | S30908 | STS309S | 1.4833 | – | 309S | 309S |
| 11 | 0Cr25Ni20 | 06Cr25Ni20 | SUS310S | 310S | S31008 | STS310S | 1.4845 | – | 310S | 310S |
| 12 | 0Cr17Ni12Mo2 | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 | SUS316 | 316 | S31600 | STS316 | 1.4401 | 04Cr17Ni12Mo2 | 316 | 316 |
| 13 | 0Cr18Ni12Mo3Ti | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2Ti | SUS316Ti | 316Ti | S31635 | – | 1.4571 | 04Cr17Ni12MoTi20 | 316Ti | 316Ti |
| 14 | 00Cr17Ni14Mo2 | 022Cr17Ni12Mo2 | SUS316L | 316L | S31603 | STS316L | 1.4404 | 02Cr17Ni12Mo2 | 316L | 316L |
| 15 | 0Cr17Ni12Mo2N | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2N | SUS316N | 316N | S31651 | STS316N | – | – | 316N | 316N |
| 16 | 00Cr17Ni13Mo2N | 022Cr17Ni13Mo2N | SUS316LN | 316LN | S31653 | STS316LN | 1.4429 | – | 316LN | 316LN |
| 17 | 0Cr18Ni12Mo2Cu2 | 06Cr18Ni12Mo2Cu2 | SUS316J1 | – | – | STS316J1 | – | – | 316J1 | 316J1 |
| 18 | 00Cr18Ni14Mo2Cu2 | 022Cr18Ni14Mo2Cu2 | SUS316J1L | – | – | STS316J1L | – | – | – | 316J1L |
| 19 | 0Cr19Ni13Mo3 | 06Cr19Ni13Mo3 | SUS317 | 317 | S31700 | STS317 | – | – | 317 | 317 |
| 20 | 00Cr19Ni13Mo3 | 022Cr19Ni13Mo3 | SUS317L | 317L | S31703 | STS317L | 1.4438 | – | 317L | 317L |
| 21 | 0Cr18Ni10Ti | 06Cr18Ni11Ti | SUS321 | 321 | S32100 | STS321 | 1.4541 | 04Cr18Ni10Ti20 | 321 | 321 |
| 22 | 0Cr18Ni11Nb | 06Cr18Ni11Nb | SUS347 | 347 | S34700 | STS347 | 1.4550 | 04Cr18Ni10Nb40 | 347 | 347 |
| Austenitic-ferritic (Duplex) stainless steel | ||||||||||
| 23 | 0Cr26Ni5Mo2 | – | SUS329J1 | 329 | S32900 | STS329J1 | 1.4477 | – | 329J1 | 329J1 |
| 24 | 00Cr18Ni5Mo3Si2 | 022Cr19Ni5Mo3Si2N | SUS329J3L | – | S31803 | STS329J3L | 1.4462 | – | 329J3L | 329J3L |
| Ferritic stainless steel | ||||||||||
| 25 | 0Cr13Al | 06Cr13Al | SUS405 | 405 | S40500 | STS405 | 1.4002 | 04Cr13 | 405 | 405 |
| 26 | – | 022Cr11Ti | SUH409 | 409 | S40900 | STS409 | 1.4512 | – | 409L | 409L |
| 27 | 00Cr12 | 022Cr12 | SUS410L | – | – | STS410L | – | – | 410L | 410L |
| 28 | 1Cr17 | 10Cr17 | SUS430 | 430 | S43000 | STS430 | 1.4016 | 05Cr17 | 430 | 430 |
| 29 | 1Cr17Mo | 10Cr17Mo | SUS434 | 434 | S43400 | STS434 | 1.4113 | – | 434 | 434 |
| 30 | – | 022Cr18NbTi | – | – | S43940 | – | 1.4509 | – | 439 | 439 |
| 31 | 00Cr18Mo2 | 019Cr19Mo2NbTi | SUS444 | 444 | S44400 | STS444 | 1.4521 | – | 444 | 444 |
| Martensitic stainless steel | ||||||||||
| 32 | 1Cr12 | 12Cr12 | SUS403 | 403 | S40300 | STS403 | – | – | 403 | 403 |
| 33 | 1Cr13 | 12Cr13 | SUS410 | 410 | S41000 | STS410 | 1.4006 | 12Cr13 | 410 | 410 |
| 34 | 2Cr13 | 20Cr13 | SUS420J1 | 420 | S42000 | STS420J1 | 1.4021 | 20Cr13 | 420 | 420J1 |
| 35 | 3Cr13 | 30Cr13 | SUS420J2 | – | – | STS420J2 | 1.4028 | 30Cr13 | 420J2 | 420J2 |
| 36 | 7Cr17 | 68Cr17 | SUS440A | 440A | S44002 | STS440A | – | – | 440A | 440A |
During manufacturing, the actual dimensions of stainless steel tubes and pipes often deviate from the nominal sizes. Such deviations are defined as tolerances and have been strictly standardized.
A positive deviation is called positive tolerance, and a negative deviation is called negative tolerance.
Outside diameter (OD), wall thickness and length are the three fundamental parameters in stainless steel tube & pipe manufacturing and distribution. Among them, OD and wall thickness are critical to structural design, fluid conveyance and downstream processing.
A. Nominal Pipe Size: The idealized dimension specified in standards such as ASME B36.10M and ASME B36.19M. It is the ordered size stated in contracts.
B. Actual Pipe Size: The real dimension obtained after production. Deviation occurs when the actual size is larger or smaller than the nominal size.
European standards define four tolerance classes for OD and wall thickness based on the nominal dimension, expressed either as percentages or absolute values. Larger diameters or heavier walls typically use percentage tolerances, while small-diameter or thin-wall tubes use absolute values.
| Standard | Process & Type | OD Tolerance | Wall Thickness Tolerance | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OD (mm) | Class | ||||
| EN 10216-5 | Hot Finished Seamless | 219.1–610 | D1 | +22.5%T, –15%T | T/D ≤ 0.05 |
| T1 | T/D ≤ 0.09 | ||||
| T2 | T/D > 0.09 | ||||
| 30–219.1 | D2 | T1 | |||
| T2 | |||||
| Cold Finished Seamless | ≤219.1 | D3 | T3 | ||
| D4 | T4 | By agreement | |||
| EN 10297-2 | Hot Finished Seamless | – | D1 | T1 | |
| D2 | T2 | By agreement | |||
| Cold Finished Seamless | – | D3 | T3 | ||
| D4 | T4 | By agreement | |||
| EN 10217-7 | Welded | >168.3 | D2 | T3 | |
| ≤168.3 | D3 | T3 | |||
| D4 | T3 | By agreement | |||
| EN 10296-2 | Welded | >168.3 | D2 | T3 | |
| ≤168.3 | D3 | T3 | |||
| ≤114.3 | D4 | T3 | By agreement | ||
| EN 10312 | Welded | Series 1 | D4 | T3 | T = 0.6–2 mm |
| Series 2 | D3–D4 | T3–T4 | T = 1–3 mm | ||
OD classes D1–D4 and wall thickness classes T1–T4 follow DIN EN ISO 1127: Dimensions, tolerances and conventional masses per unit length.
| Outside Diameter | Wall Thickness | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Tolerance | Class | Tolerance |
| D1 | ±1.5% or ±0.75 mm min. | T1 | ±15% or ±0.6 mm min. |
| D2 | ±1.0% or ±0.5 mm min. | T2 | ±12.5% or ±0.4 mm min. |
| D3 | ±0.75% or ±0.3 mm min. | T3 | ±10% or ±0.2 mm min. |
| D4 | ±0.50% or ±0.1 mm min. | T4 | ±7.5% or ±0.15 mm min. |
| T5 | ±5.0% or ±0.10 mm min. | ||
Where both percentage and absolute values apply, the greater value shall be used.
ASTM specifications are primarily governed by ASTM A999/A999M and A1016/A1016M.
| ASTM A999 | ASTM A1016 |
|
|
A511 (seamless mechanical tubing) and A554 (welded mechanical tubing) are exceptions and have independent tolerance tables.
| Standard | Process / Condition | OD (mm) | OD Tolerance (mm) | Wall Thickness T (mm) | Wall Thickness Tolerance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Average | |||||
| ASTM A1016/A1016M | Hot Drawn Seamless | ≤100 | +0.4 / –0.8 | ≤2.4 | +0.4t / 0 | |
| 100–200 | +0.4 / –1.2 | 2.4–3.8 | +0.35t / 0 | |||
| 200–225 | +0.4 / –1.6 | 3.8–4.6 | +0.33t / 0 | |||
| ≥4.6 | +0.28t / 0 | |||||
| Cold Drawn Seamless | <25 | ±0.1 | +0.20t / 0 | ±0.10t | ||
| 25–40 | ±0.1 | +0.20t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 40–50 | ±0.2 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 50–65 | ±0.25 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 65–75 | ±0.3 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 75–100 | ±0.38 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 100–200 | +0.38 / –0.04 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 200–250 | +0.38 / –1.14 | +0.22t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| Welded | 40–50 | ±0.2 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | ||
| 50–65 | ±0.25 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 65–75 | ±0.3 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 75–100 | ±0.38 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 100–200 | +0.38 / –0.04 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| 200–250 | +0.38 / –1.14 | +0.18t / 0 | ±0.10t | |||
| ASTM A999 | Seamless & Welded | <48.3 | +0.4 / –0.8 | –0.125t | ||
| ASTM A312 | Seamless & Welded | 48.3–114.3 | ±0.8 | OD=10.3–73 | +0.20t / –0.125t | |
| 168.3–219.1 | +1.6 / –0.8 | t/OD≤5%, OD=88.9–457.2 | +0.225t / –0.125t | |||
| 219.1–457.2 | +2.4 / –0.8 | t/OD>5%, OD=88.9–457.2 | +0.15t / –0.125t | |||
| Welded | 508–660 | +3.2 / –0.8 | OD≥508 | +0.175t / –0.125t | ||
| 711–864 | +4.0 / –0.8 | t/OD≤5%, OD≥508 | +0.225t / –0.125t | |||
| Seamless | 914–1209 | +4.8 / –0.8 | t/OD>5%, OD≥508 | +0.15t / –0.125t | ||
| ASTM A409 | Welded | ±0.2% (t<4.8) ±0.4% (t≥4.8) |
||||
| ASTM A358 | Welded | ±0.50% | ||||
| ASTM A511 | Seamless Mechanical | ≤12.7 | ±0.1 | ±0.15t | ||
| 12.7–38.1 | ±0.2 | ±0.10t | ||||
| 38.1–88.9 | ±0.3 | ±0.10t | ||||
| 88.9–139.7 | ±0.4 | ±0.10t | ||||
| 139.7–203.1 | ±0.8 | ±0.10t | ||||
| 203.1–220 | ±1.1 | ±0.10t | ||||
| 220–325 | ±1.6 | ±0.10t | ||||
U.S. standards predominantly use absolute OD tolerances, often asymmetrical. In many cases, average OD accuracy exceeds D4 class per EN ISO 1127.
Typical wall thickness tolerance: ±10%t or tighter. Pipeline products allow larger tolerances, with hot-finished seamless pipe being the most permissive.
China’s stainless steel tube & pipe standards are broadly aligned with European practice, while incorporating select provisions from U.S. specifications.
| Specification | Process | OD (mm) | OD Tolerance | Wall (mm) | Wall Tolerance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB 13296 | Cold Rolled Seamless | 6–30 | ±0.15 / –0.2 | 1–3 | +20% | 0% |
| >30–50 | ±0.3 | >3 | +22% | 0% | ||
| >50 | ±0.75% | Average wall thickness applies | ||||
| GB/T 14976 | Cold Rolled Seamless | 6–10 | ±0.15 | 1–3 | +12.5% | –12.5% |
| 10–30 | ±0.2 | >3 | +12.5% | –10% | ||
| 30–50 | ±0.3 | Average wall: +22% | ||||
| >50 | ±0.8% | |||||
Wall thickness tolerances in Chinese standards are generally comparable to mainstream U.S. and European specifications, though slightly less stringent than the highest EU accuracy classes.
OD tolerances in Chinese standards are typically tighter than U.S. requirements and approach EU levels. U.S. standards place stronger emphasis on tight OD control relative to wall thickness.
Neither Chinese nor European standards prescribe weight tolerances. Seamless tubes may be delivered by actual or theoretical weight; welded tubes are typically delivered by theoretical weight, optionally by actual weight.
Ovality is the difference between the maximum and minimum OD measured on the same cross-section. It is determined by measuring the high and low points of the tube or pipe.
Eccentricity describes variation in wall thickness around the circumference. High-precision applications require tight concentricity.
EN standards incorporate concentricity within wall thickness tolerances. ASTM A1016/A1016M specifies concentricity for OD ≥ 50 mm and t ≥ 5.6 mm.
Seamless tubes:
WTmax – WTmin ≤ ±10% × (WTmax + WTmin) / 2
Welded tubes:
WTmax – WTmin ≤ 5% × (WTmax + WTmin) / 2
Standard tubes are supplied straightened to the eye. For special applications, permissible deviation from straightness may be agreed upon. It is expressed per unit length, e.g. 1 mm per 1000 mm.
| OD (mm) ≤ | OD (inches) ≤ | Wall | Commercial Straightness | Achievable (mm/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.9 | 0.625 | All sizes | 1 in 600 | 1 in 2000 |
| 25.4 | 1.00 | ≥2% of OD | 1 in 600 | 1 in 1500 |
| 25.4 | 1.00 | <2% of OD | 1 in 400 | 1 in 1000 |
Delivery length is the length requested by the purchaser and specified in the contract. Standards define several types:
A. Normal / Random Length: Within the standard range, without fixed length requirement. Example: hot-finished pipe 3000–12000 mm; cold-drawn pipe 2000–10500 mm.
B. Fixed Length: A specific length within the normal range. An allowable positive deviation applies.
Fixed-length production yields significantly lower than random length. Price premiums of approximately 10% are common.
C. Multiple Length: Total length is a multiple of a single length, with an additional cutting allowance. Example: 3000 mm × 3 = 9000 mm total.
Cutting allowances: 5–10 mm for OD ≤ 159 mm; 10–15 mm for OD > 159 mm.
D. Range Length: A defined length interval within the normal range. Example: 6000–8000 mm or 8000–10000 mm. Premiums of ~4% are typical.
Seamless and welded tubes and pipes are the two primary product forms for stainless steel. For decades, there has been ongoing discussion regarding which type offers superior performance.
With advances in metallurgy and welding technology, the debate now centers on structural integrity and corrosion resistance—particularly within the weld zone of welded products. Fundamentally, the key distinction lies in the manufacturing process.
In certain highly corrosive or high-pressure applications, selecting a higher-performance alloy—rather than simply choosing seamless over welded—may be the most effective solution.
Strip-welded tubes are produced from stainless steel coils or strips. The strip passes through grooved rollers, gradually forming a circular profile. As the edges converge, they are joined by automatic welding.
The most common welding process is TIG (GTAW), which provides excellent protection of the weld seam and consistent metallurgical quality.
After welding, the seam is typically ground flush, followed by solution annealing or stress-relief heat treatment, depending on application requirements. Modern production lines often integrate inline induction annealing, straightening, dimensional calibration, cutting to length, deburring and non-destructive testing.
TIG welding of stainless steel tubing
For large-diameter or heavy-wall pipes, the manufacturing route differs. Production begins with stainless steel plates rather than strips. Plates are plasma-cut to size, edge-prepared, and formed using roller bending machines or hydraulic presses.
Welding methods such as EFW (Electric Fusion Welding) or ERW (Electric Resistance Welding) are commonly applied. For critical services, double-sided welding may be employed to ensure full penetration and structural integrity.
For large-diameter welded pipes, radiographic examination (RT) and hydrostatic testing (HT) are typically mandatory. Double-sided welding is commonly accepted and specified for high-integrity applications.
Common delivery conditions for stainless steel tubes and pipes: cold-hard (BK), cold-soft (BKW), stress-relieved (BKS), annealed (GBK), and normalized (NBK).
| Term | Symbol | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Cold-finished / Hard | BK | No heat treatment after final cold-forming. Low deformability. |
| Cold-finished / Soft | BKW | Light finishing pass after heat treatment. Limited cold-formability (bending, expanding). |
| Annealed | GBK | Annealed after final cold-forming in controlled atmosphere or vacuum. |
| Normalized | NBK | Annealed above upper transformation point in controlled atmosphere or vacuum. |
Bare packing / bundle packing / crate packing with wooden protection at both ends, suitable for seaworthy delivery or as requested.
While hundreds of packing methods exist, two principles are mandatory: corrosion prevention and secure sea transport.
Sunny Steel packing can be fully customized to meet customer requirements.
Stainless steel tubes can be beveled at one or both ends to match complementary joints. Beveling simplifies welding preparation, reduces on-site cutting time and lowers installation costs.
Sunny Steel provides heat treatment for selected 400-series stainless steels. Processes include stress relieving, tempering, quenching, normalizing and solution annealing to achieve required mechanical properties and microstructure.
Honing and turning refine the internal surface of tubes and pipes to precise diameters and geometric tolerances. This secondary operation relieves residual stress and improves surface finish after drilling, reaming and heat treatment.
Internal and external polishing is available to meet sanitary, pharmaceutical and high-purity process requirements.
PMI testing verifies alloy composition to ensure compliance with specifications. Sunny Steel performs in-house PMI or coordinates with independent laboratories for critical applications.
UT uses high-frequency sound waves to detect internal flaws, measure wall thickness and verify material integrity. This non-destructive test is routinely applied to seamless and welded stainless steel tubes.
All products are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates. Third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TÜV) is available upon request.
Commonly used alloying elements and their effects are listed in the table given below.
| Alloying Elements | Effect on the Properties |
|---|---|
| Chromium | Increases Resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Increases hardenability and wear resistance. Increases high temperature strength. |
| Nickel | Increases hardenability. Improves toughness. Increases impact strength at low temperatures. |
| Molybdenum | Increases hardenability, high temperature hardness, and wear resistance. Enhances the effects of other alloying elements. Eliminate temper brittleness in steels. Increases high temperature strength. |
| Manganese | Increases hardenability. Combines with sulfur to reduce its adverse effects. |
| Vanadium | Increases hardenability, high temperature hardness, and wear resistance. Improves fatigue resistance. |
| Titanium | Strongest carbide former. Added to stainless steel to prevent precipitation of chromium carbide. |
| Silicon | Removes oxygen in steel making. Improves toughness. Increases hardness ability |
| Boron | Increases hardenability. Produces fine grain size. |
| Aluminum | Forms nitride in nitriding steels. Produces fine grain size in casting. Removes oxygen in steel melting. |
| Cobalt | Increases heat and wear resistance. |
| Tungsten | Increases hardness at elevated temperatures. Refines grain size. |
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