Pipes

Metal pipes. Steel, cast iron, aluminum, copper pipes

March 28, 2020

Metal pipes, despite the widespread use of polymeric materials, continue to be in demand. Metals are used to make parts and assemblies in devices, mechanisms and units. Construction is interested in metal structures, load-bearing. Insulation and reinforcement, transportation of various gaseous, liquid and bulk substances require the use of metals.

Metal pipes are in great demand and are used in almost all areas of construction

Steel pipes: classification, Advantages and disadvantages, scope

Steel pipe products are classified according to a number of characteristics, example, according to a certain technical characteristic, which determines consumer qualities:

  • method of manufacture;
  • the presence of perforations;
  • wall thickness;
  • diameter (internal section);
  • external coating.

According to the method of manufacture, there are steel pipe products:

  • seamless (hot and cold deformed);
  • welded (water and gas, straight and spiral);
  • solder.

The wall thickness of the product refers to:

  • subtle;
  • normal;
  • thick-walled.

There are metal pipes made of steel in the shape of the section:

  • teardrop-shaped;
  • square;
  • round;
  • oval;
  • rectangular;
  • hex.

Steel pipes can have different cross-sectional forums, the most widely used are conventional round products

Based on the presence of external anti-corrosion coating, steel products can be attributed to:

  • ungalvanized;
  • galvanized;
  • chrome-plated, etc..

Useful to know! The use of anti-corrosion coating can significantly extend the life of pipes in all conditions.

Highlighting the merits of steel pipelines is noted, that they are characterized:

  • high resistance to mechanical loads;
  • high coefficient of thermal conductivity;
  • quite a long period of operation, up to fifteen years old.
  • low coefficient of linear expansion, which allows them to be used in heating systems;
  • ability to withstand high values ​​of pressure and temperature of the working environment;
  • the breadth of the range.

Corrugated steel pipes combine advantages, inherent in steel, with the newcomer, characterized by:

  • flexibility and plasticity;
  • resistance to mechanical influences from the outside and inside. Successfully cope with the pressure of the working environment 40 atm and above;
  • frost resistance;
  • smoothness of internal walls, which eliminates siltation, formation of mold and fungi;
  • ease of installation and the possibility of concealed installation;
  • environmental friendliness.

A significant disadvantage of steel pipes is their weight - to work with such products requires equipment

The reliability of steel structures is associated with a number of disadvantages:

  • abrasive wear;
  • heavy weight, which makes it difficult to transport and carry out any work;
  • high cost and significant installation costs, maintenance and repair;
  • low frost resistance;
  • prone to corrosion;
  • roughness and tendency to accumulate precipitation, significantly reduce the capacity of pipelines.

pay attention! It is not possible to cover and describe in detail all areas of application of steel pipes. These products are used almost everywhere.

In the most general form we can talk about two main areas of application:

  1. For transportation. Air and gases, water, vapors and various liquids, bulk substances move through pipelines, made of steel.
  2. In the form of metal structures. Profile products are in demand in this area.

Cast iron pipes: general properties, application of the range of cast iron products

Cast iron products are made of gray or high-strength metal, which significantly affects their properties. Cast iron as a material is characterized:

  • long service life;
  • sufficient frost resistance (to - 60 ° C);
  • resistance to damage;
  • fire safety;
  • strength;
  • low coefficient of stretching;
  • noise insulation.

The characteristics of cast iron pipes allow them to be used in almost all domestic and industrial facilities

Different types of cast iron products have inherent qualities, noticeably different from others, which determines the scope of their application.

VCHSHG pressure pipes have found application in:

  • drilling rigs;
  • water mains;
  • gas and oil pipelines;
  • sewer pipelines, especially, on large objects;
  • pipelines with high pressure of the working environment (to 1,8 MPa).

Such a wide distribution of VCHSHG products has become possible, thanks to:

  • high elasticity and flexural strength;
  • corrosion resistance, formation of cracks and shock loads.

Pressure-free cast iron sewer pipes are inferior in strength to products from VCHSHG, not withstanding significant loads. They are used on small objects. On the one hand, the bell-shaped TCC ends with a special extension for connection. It is used when laying sewers together with polymer pipes.

Cast iron bell pipes are most often used for the installation of sewer networks

Tubeless SML made of cast iron, containing a significant proportion of graphite. Centrifugal casting is used for production.

Importantly! The inner surface of SLM pipes is equipped with an epoxy coating, which prevents the formation of layers and perform a protective function. These products are used for pumping aggressive liquids and solutions.

Characterizing the operational capabilities of bell-free cast iron SML pipes, special attention is paid:

  • strength;
  • wear resistance;
  • fire resistance, incombustibility;
  • noise insulation;
  • resistance to corrosion and aggressive chemical environments;
  • ability to tolerate high temperatures;
  • easy connection with clamps.

Sleeveless cast iron SML products are used for drainage and sewerage:

  • housing stock;
  • production facilities;
  • facilities with high requirements for noise and fire safety (educational institutions, health care facilities, boarding houses and hotels).

Cast iron pipes can have a special outer coating, which significantly extends their service life

Cast iron pressure bell products, differing in the tendency to rust and the ability to withstand the pressure of the working environment 16 atm, designed for fifty years of operation. To prevent corrosion, they are covered with lacquer-bitumen compositions, which contributes to even longer service life. CNR products are laid as on the surface, and underground, arranging water supply and sewerage networks at industrial facilities.

Ribbed economizer cast iron pipes for heating systems are in demand at industrial facilities and in residential buildings, where their shortcomings are not significant:

  • significant weight;
  • propensity to accumulate dust intercostal space;
  • low resistance to mechanical influences.

These shortcomings are more than overlapped:

  • extremely long service life, more than a century;
  • resistance to corrosion and internal, and outer surfaces;
  • high thermal conductivity combined with long-term heat retention;
  • relatively low cost.

Pipes made of aluminum and aluminum melts

Used in a number of industries - chemical and petrochemical, avia- and shipbuilding, construction.

Aluminum pipes are light and easy to handle

According to the method of making pipes from aluminum and alloys are:

  • pressed;
  • welded straight seam;
  • cold deformed.

The shape of the intersection can be:

  • square;
  • round;
  • rectangular;
  • shaped.

Aluminum pipes are available in length:

  • dimensional;
  • nemirna;
  • multiple measures.

As of manufacture:

  • hardened and aged naturally;
  • hardened and aged artificially;
  • hardened;
  • hardened after quenching and naturally aged;
  • annealed.

Profile pipes made of aluminum and alloys are used as a basis for structures, which must be strong, but at the same time have a small weight

pay attention! The most popular alloy, obtained by adding copper, manganese and magnesium, is duralumin. To protect against corrosion, the duralumin pipe is covered with pure aluminum, turning the service life into almost unlimited.

Pipes made of copper and alloys based on it

Copper plumbing products, meeting international standards, are made of metal, deoxidized with phosphorus. Copper pipes are supplied in the form:

  • segments several meters long (unannealed);
  • dozens of bays long (annealed, T. is., which have undergone special heat treatment, which adds softness and reduces strength).

The installation of a copper plumbing system allows you to get a long list of significant benefits:

  • high level of antibacterial and antiviral protection;
  • impermeability to harmful substances;
  • tendency to form deposits of organic and inorganic on the inner surface, and on the outside;
  • in the presence of chlorine in the water on the inner surface of the products after a hundred hours of operation, an additional strong protective film is formed;
  • low coefficient of thermal expansion;
  • resistance to temperature changes in the range from - 200? From to +250? WITH. The danger of frost for plumbing can be safely forgotten;
  • plasticity;
  • resistance to ultraviolet radiation;
  • the roughness factor provides the bandwidth, which exceeds the capabilities of polymeric materials;
  • durability (service life exceeds fifty years);
  • susceptibility to corrosion.

Bronze and brass pipes, due to their high cost, are used in technical devices and installations, where their high performance allows to neglect the price factor, less often - in the domestic sphere.

The range of metal pipes is extremely large, and it continues to grow, as new alloys with unique advantages are constantly appearing.