Tubing is a term used to describe pipes which are mostly cylindrical in shape and are usually made of metals, plastics or rubber. They are employed in many functions such as conveying fluids or gases, support structures and as parts of machinery and structures. Tubes can be made of different sizes, thickness and materials depending on the function that they are to perform. The type of tubing to be used depends on factors such as pressure, temperature and chemical compatibility.
Different types of Tubing
Tubes are classified according to the method of manufacture and the use that is intended to be made of them. Here’s are few types of tubes:
- Seamless Tubes: These are made without any seam or weld. The material is extruded into a tube form and then proceed through further manufacturing process. Seamless tubes are normally strong and durable and are used in applications that require high pressure.
- Welded Tubes: These are made by bending flat metal plates into tubes by rolling and welding them. The weld seam is the line where the two metal sheets are joined by fusing the edges of the sheets together. Welded tubes are cheaper and are used in most of the structural applications.
- Drawn Tubes: These are those tubes that have been subjected to further processing in order to enhance their size and surface characteristics. Drawing is the process of reducing the thickness of the tube and at the same time increasing the length by passing it through a die. Drawn tubes are preferred in applications where a high degree of accuracy is demanded due to their closer tolerances.
- Spiral Welded Tubes: These are fabricated by using a strip of metal and bending it into a tube form through spirally welding. This method is employed for larger diameter tubes and is quite common in applications such as water conveyance and structural member.
- ERW (Electric Resistance Welded) Tubes: ERW tubes are made by using electrical resistance to heat and join the edges of the strip. This process is fast and widely applicable for the manufacture of tubes of different diameters.
- Butt-Welded Tubes: These tubes are produced by the process known as butt-welding whereby two pieces of metal are joined. It involves positioning of the metal parts and then joining them through the edges through welding. Butt-welded tubes are applied in conditions where the quality of joints is crucial.
- Flanged Tubes: These tubes have flanges at the end of the tubes so that they can be easily connected and disconnected from other parts. Flanged tubes are applied in piping and equipment connections.
Different Tube Materials
All types of tubing are different from each other in their characteristics and are used in various applications.
- Steel: Steel tubing is very robust and can be used in many applications, carbon steel is affordable for structural, machinery, and automotive applications. Carbon steel containing a small percentage of other alloying elements such as chromium or nickel provides improved hardness and wear properties for applications that are subjected to high stress.
- Stainless Steel: Stainless steel tubing is highly appreciated for its corrosion resistance and high durability. Austenitic grades are applied in food processing and medical industries while the ferritic grades are applied in automotive and industrial industries due to their good corrosion resistance and relatively cheaper than austenitic grades. Martensitic grades offer high hardness for applications that are wear resistant.
- Aluminum: Aluminum tubing is lightweight, corrosion resistant and is used in aerospace, automotive and structural applications. It is available in different types of alloys like 6061, 7075 and so on each of them has different tensile strength and ductility.
- Copper: Copper tubing is highly conductive of heat and electricity and is used in electrical wiring, plumbing and air conditioning systems. It is also corrosion resistant and can easily be bent and shaped to fit a given design or structure.
- Titanium: Titanium tubing is extremely resistant to corrosion and its strength to weight ratio is very high and it is used in aerospace applications, medical implants, and other high performance engineering applications. It is slightly more costly than other metals but has a very high level of hardness.
- Nickel Alloys: Some of these alloys include Inconel and Monel that are highly resistant to extreme temperatures and corrosive settings. It is applied in specific areas like aerospace and chemical industries.
- Bronze: Bronze tubing is an alloy of copper and tin that is characterized by its wear and corrosion resistant properties. It is widely utilized in marine industry and in the production of bearings and bushings.
Every metal has its own characteristics that define its application, whether it is high strength and density, lightweight and corrosion resistance.
Features of Tubing
Here are some key features of tubes used in various applications:
- Material Variety: Tubes can be of many types of materials like stainless steel, copper, plastic, aluminum and many other types of materials. All the materials have their advantages depending on the kind of usage that is needed.
- Customization Options: Tubing can also be ordered in various dimensions like diameter, wall thickness, length and cross-section can also be round, square or rectangular depending on the requirement of the project or the application.
- High Durability and Strength: Tubes are manufactured in such a manner that they are able to withstand various types of stresses such as pressure, temperature and mechanical. This makes them suitable to be used in conditions that are unfavourable such as in industrial and high pressure conditions.
- Ease of Installation: Tubing is very flexible and it can be connected by various fittings and connectors which make installation and repair very easy. It is particularly effective in plumbing and HVAC or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems.
- Corrosion and Chemical Resistance: Tubes are very resistant to corrosion and chemicals, therefore the tubes can be used in areas such as chemical industries or marine industries.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Tubes are normally used because they are cheaper in the long run since they have a longer life span, and they do not need much attention in terms of maintenance and if the material used to make the tubes is metal, then the material can be recycled.
- Flexibility and Bendability: Copper and plastic tubes are bendable in nature and can easily be installed in areas that other tubes cannot be installed without the use of fittings.
These features make tubes an important element in many systems and applications that guarantee their stable and efficient work in various industries.
Applications of Tubing
Tubes are applied in many industries due to some characteristics that qualify it for use in certain industries. Below are some of the most usual uses of tubes:
- Plumbing and Water Supply: Tubes are used in plumbing where they are applied in the supply of water and the drain of waste water. These are some of the most popular materials: copper, PVC and PEX because of their high level of resistance to corrosion and the ease of the installation process.
- HVAC Systems: In HVAC systems, tubes are used for passing of refrigerants and air within the system. Copper tubes are preferred in HVAC systems mainly due to their high thermal conductivity and reasonable corrosion resistance.
- Automotive Industry: Tubes are used in car manufacturing as fuel and brake lines and as exhaust systems. Stainless steel and aluminum tubes are preferred due to the factors such as high strength, light weight, high temperature and corrosion resistance.
- Construction and Structural Applications: Tubes are used in construction as parts of structures such as scaffoldings, building frames, and handrails. Steel tubes are deemed to be more suitable because of its strength and load bearing characteristics.
- Aerospace Industry: Tubes are employed in aerospace applications for fuel and hydraulic application and for some structural application. Titanium and aluminum alloys are used because of their high specific strength and the ability to withstand the conditions of the environment.
- Chemical and Petrochemical Industries: In chemical processing and petrochemical plants, tubes are used as passages for gases and fluids including corrosive fluids. Stainless steel and other alloys are used because of their chemical and thermal stability and they can function under high pressure.
- Oil and Gas Industry: Tubes are employed in the oil and gas industry as drill strings and pipeworks, and wellbores casing. Among the materials used are carbon steel and stainless steel due to their strength and durability and their ability to work under very hard conditions.
- Food and Beverage Industry: In the food processing, dairy and beverage industries, tubes are used in the transfer of liquids and gases. This is because the stainless steel tubes offer a clean surface, no signs of corrosion and are able to maintain the quality of the product that is being transported.
- Furniture and Design: Tubes are used in the frame work of furniture and construction of furniture such as chairs, tables and shelves among others. They provide the support and the aesthetics and the materials used are steel and aluminum which are strong and stylish respectively.
These various uses indicate that tubes are applied in various industries depending on the need that is demanded.
