Category Archive: Stainless Steel

How To Choose Your Stainless Steel Tubing Manufacturer

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Stainless steel tubing is a widely used material and accessory in the manufacturing and construction industries. It is an adaptable, strong, and long-lasting multipurpose alloy well-regarded in the cookware, building, food and beverage, and automotive industries. Stainless teel is an alloy that resists corrosion and does not require zinc galvanization, making it a cost-effective and skillful option for most uses.

Stainless Steel Tubing Industry Application

Since its creation more than a century ago, stainless steel has been one of the world’s most popular and adaptable materials and is now essential for many industries. Due to its antibacterial qualities, ease of washing, and resistance to corrosion or reactivity with human fluids, stainless steel is generally considered a popular material used in medical devices.

Its other common applications include the following:

High-Pressure Industries

Stainless steel is ideal for factories that pump liquids through at high pressure. Some of these materials can be welded together, while others can be used seamlessly. The grade requirement may change based on the amount of stress applied to the pipes. Stainless steel tubings with higher grades can withstand high temperatures and pressure.

Aviation

Various aviation components use stainless steel, particularly in engines and areas with high temperatures. Chromium and nickel are typically found in the composition of the steel type employed.

Mining

The mining process requires pipes that must sustain high pressure and resist corrosion. Because they satisfy those requirements, stainless steel pipes are often the go-to material. Moreover, alloys containing molybdenum can offer reliable pipework for offshore mining without being harmed by seawater.

Are You Working With the Right Stainless Tubing Manufacturer?

Whether it’s a condenser or feedwater heater in a plant or an exhaust tube in an automobile, engineers have a wide range of options when choosing stainless steel tubing materials for the project at hand. The range of choices gives them access to the best grade and steel tubing type ideal for their needs.

ASTM provides a list of over 75 alloys for this purpose, allowing engineers more freedom to select the best stainless steel tubing option. This is possible even as they adhere to specifications, work within financial objectives, and maintain the performance requirements for the product’s lifetime.

Here are the top considerations when working with a stainless steel tubing manufacturer:

Seamless vs. Welded

Is your current steel tubing manufacturer capable of providing seamless or welded tubings for your needs? When choosing a tube’s material, a user must first decide whether a seamless or welded procedure is necessary.

Extrusion (a high-temperature shearing process) or rotary piercing (a process that tears interior tissue) are both used to accomplish seamless fabrication. In this case, the billet hole must be forced into the material in a process known as seamless tubular fabrication. However, these processes include the risk of introducing minor ID surface defects.

Seamless tubing is frequently chosen for tasks that call for hefty walls because it can withstand high-pressure situations. Thus, working with a company capable of providing seamless and welded services delivered within your expectations and needs is ideal.

Corrosion and Erosion

A seasoned and reliable steel tubing manufacturer can provide expert insight about the right type of machines, alloys to fabricate, the best materials for specific applications, and more. The same is true for factors like corrosion and erosion.

Rust is a typical consequence of corrosion, formed when iron corrodes and produces iron oxide. When a fluid oxidizes a metal atom, generalized corrosion causes the surface metal to dissolve. The wall thickness of the tube decreases due to this loss, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failure.

General corrosion is not catastrophic and can be anticipated. Still, an alloy prone to corrosion is frequently a more affordable material choice. Therefore, designers and engineers commonly include the “corrosion allowance” in the tube wall thickness.

Economic Considerations

The price of steel tubes has been severely impacted by the enormous fluctuations in nickel, copper, and molybdenum prices over the past few years. Hence, when creating long-term budgets for alloys with greater alloy contents like TP 304, TP 316, cupro-nickels, and the 6% molybdenum-containing alloys, one should exercise extreme caution.

Work with a contractor that can provide precise quotes with certified and high-quality materials suited to your needs and budget.

Bergsen Metals: Your Stainless Tubing Manufacturer in Santa Fe Springs, California

As the brand of choice for stainless steel tubing in Santa Fe Springs, Bergsen Metals goes above and beyond what our customers anticipate by combining excellent service with premium steel!

We take pleasure in offering reasonably priced materials that are competitive on the global market. Our goal is to establish successful, long-lasting relationships with each of our clients rather than simply acting as a service center for them.

Contact us today for high-quality stainless steel tubings and other steel requirements. We look forward to working with you!

Benefits of 316 vs. 304 Stainless Steel

While there are no visible differences between 304 and 316 stainless steel, there are distinctive chemical differences – the most crucial difference being their chemical compositions. 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. In contrast, 316 stainless steel contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum. The chemical distinction between these two grades of stainless steel is of great importance when considering their intended uses.

304 Stainless Steel Properties & Applications

The majority of stainless steel utilized globally is grade 304. There are multiple reasons for its popularity, including:

  • 304 stainless steel is durable and is corrosion and oxidation resistant, meaning it can endure average exposures.
  • Its melting point ranges from 2,550° F to 2,650° F, allowing it to withstand very high temperatures.
  • 304 is also valued for its high tensile strength of about 621 MPa (90 ksi).

304 stainless steel’s chemical makeup of 18% chromium and 8% nickel makes it a good choice for many common applications, which include:

  • Kitchen equipment & appliances
  • Water piping
  • Indoor electrical enclosures
  • Auto moldings & trim
  • Wheel covers
  • Storage tanks

316 Stainless Steel Properties & Applications

304 and 316 stainless steel share many properties. However, it is the added properties that set 316 stainless steel apart.

  • The addition of molybdenum to 316’s chemical makeup improves its resistance to harmful acids, alkalis, and chloride pitting. This increases its longevity and provides crucial protection for essential components.
  • Its high percentage of chromium and nickel, indicative of austenitic stainless steel alloys, provides increased strength and corrosion resistance in some of the most punishing environments.

316 stainless steel’s material composition of 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum allows it to be used in applications that require superior corrosion resistance and stringent hygiene and cleanliness requirements. Some of the most common applications are:

  • Chemical equipment
  • Pharmaceutical equipment
  • Outdoor electrical enclosures
  • Marine parts
  • Stainless steel baskets
  • Medical surgical equipment
  • Stainless steel floats

Benefits of Using 316 Stainless Steel

Benefits of 316 vs. 304 Stainless SteelClick to Enlarge

When salt and other chlorides are an exposure and lasting durability is desired, the benefits of using 316 stainless steel over 304 are clear.

Durability

Not only tough, but also versatile, 316 stainless steel is an excellent choice for use in applications such as custom wire baskets. These baskets are often subject to harsh, high-impact conditions, and 316 stainless steel continues to deliver durability in these environments year after year.

Corrosion Resistance

316 stainless steel’s added chemical component, molybdenum, makes it much more corrosion resistant than 304 or other stainless steel alloys. This allows 316 stainless steel to be used in highly acidic environments that other steels can’t tolerate without incurring damage. 316’s corrosion-resistant properties also make it ideal in pharmaceutical and medical applications due to its ability to withstand the strong disinfectants and high temperatures needed to sterilize equipment.

Sea and Marine Applications

Exposure to salt and chlorides can wreak havoc on 304 and other stainless steel alloys. Salt can cause 304 stainless steel to rust by eroding its protective oxide layer, and 304 steel is also more easily pitted from the effects of salt and chlorides. However, 316 stainless steel has all of the desirability properties of 304 stainless steel, but with the added benefit of molybdenum, which allows it to withstand exposure to salt and chlorides without breaking down.

 

Bergsen Metals Stainless Steel Products

While 316 stainless steel has all of the benefits of 304 stainless steel and many additional benefits as well, it all comes down to the qualities needed for a particular application.

Regardless of your stainless steel needs, Bergsen Metals offers a complete inventory of stainless steel products in a wide variety of grades and sizes. View our stainless steel productsrequest a quote, or contact us for more information on how we can move your business forward with our quality stainless steel products and exceptional customer service. 

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