What are the types of steel and their uses in the piping industry?
- Carbon Steel
- Alloy Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Tool Steel
Steels are one of the most affordable, and widely used engineering and construction materials. It primarily contains less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese, and fewer amounts of oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, and silicon. With the evolved and more complex steel manufacturing processes of many steel manufacturers today, they offer a wide selection of steels in the market in which the buyers’ options have expanded to suit their needs for different industries such as the piping industry. Here are the types of steel and their uses in the piping industry.
Keep in mind that not all manufacturers of steel products in the Philippines can produce different types of steel needed for piping applications. Here in the Philippines, Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. is the leading steel manufacturer and is the first choice of many piping industry professionals.
Carbon Steel
When carbon is added to iron, it creates steel, which is unfortunately weak on its own. In modern industries today, carbon is the most eminent additive to a tough material. In addition, carbon steels are widely used in the piping industry because of their ease of workability and strength. It contains fewer alloying elements and is under low concentrations, which makes carbon steels more affordable, unlike other materials.
Unfortunately, if your project is looking for a type of steel that can withstand extreme temperatures or high-pressure service, then carbon steels are unsuitable because of their fewer alloying elements, making them less resistant to those stresses.
Alloy Steel
From the name itself, alloy steels contain amounts of alloying elements which makes them stronger and resistant to stress and impact. Due to this, they are most favored in the piping industry for extreme conditions, whether it’s for rough use or hot or cold conditions. It is primarily because the combination of heat and the chemistry-treating alloy steels are strong and ductile that can tolerate rough beatings.
Alloying elements include chromium, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, manganese, and copper which are suitable to use in steel production. That makes alloy steels the first choice for chemical companies, too.
In addition, there are infinite combinations of concentrations and alloys used in the alloy steels and each of those is designed to achieve great qualities beneficial for your industrial piping purposes.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steels are also the widely used type of steel in the piping industry because they are resistant to rust. It contains manganese, chromium, nickel, silicon, and molybdenum which allows the alloys to work all together to communicate with the oxygen in water and air to rapidly create a thin yet strong film over the steel to prevent corrosion.
Stainless steels are also used in any industry that prioritizes corrosion protection for their project. To add, make sure that when you look for a steel manufacturer in the Philippines, you’re guaranteed that they appropriately heated the stainless steel to increase its impact resistance and strength. Because unfortunately, when you purchase low-quality stainless steel, it could not withstand extreme conditions.
Stainless steel, on top of being corrosion-resistant, is also non-leachable and heat tolerant. These qualities make it safe to use in the food industry. In the Philippines, food machinery is one of the biggest users of stainless steel pipes.
Moreover, stainless steel is commonly used in the piping industry because of its aesthetic appeal. Thus, they are chosen if the pipe must be visible in professional or public locations.
Tool Steel
Sometimes called super-alloys, tool steels are another type of steel that is used in the piping industry. It turns the steel into equipment or products. Because of this, they have tough, strong, resistant to corrosion, and ductile properties. They are able to retain cutting edges and keep their shape in hot temperatures, too. Therefore, steel manufacturers should produce them with high concentrations of alloying elements and be highly treated with heat.
However, it is expensive to produce because of its high-quality properties that’s why some deemed it not suitable for piping products. Another factor that many buyers say is that the amount of alloying elements in the tool steels makes them harder to form into piping products. Luckily, pipes no longer need to cut edges today that’s why it’s now affordable, easier to use, and can form pipe easily compared to other steels with lower alloys.
Key Takeaway
The complex production of different types of steel and their uses in the piping industry helps many steel manufacturers to improve and refine their manufacturing processes for better quality.
Are you looking for the best steel manufacturer in the Philippines? Become a better buyer by choosing Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. today as your steel supplier! We offer a varied selection of steel products at affordable prices.
Here at RISI, we have it all for you. Plus, our skilled and friendly team is trained to gather detailed information about your project needs to ensure that you get exactly the steel products you need when you need them! If you need more help for assistance, contact us here.
