The metallurgical industry produces a sufficient number of types of ferrous rolled metal, differing not only in cost but also in technical capabilities, so it is always possible to select the optimal option for each specific task. For the construction of the most critical sections operating under heavy loads, a high-pressure material is often chosen round cold-rolled steel pipe, which allows to obtain the best technical characteristics of the created section of the general transport system.
This is achieved through the presence of features obtained through the technological production method:
- The seamless wall has very high tensile strength and is not damaged when pressure reaches levels that would cause welded counterparts to split at the seams, forming through-holes through which the working fluid leaks into the outside space, causing irreparable damage to the environment. This requires the expenditure of excess energy during production, which increases the cost of finished products somewhat, and its use in all cases is not always economically feasible.
- Cold-forming the metal to create a hollow cylinder allows for the geometric shape to be as close to perfect as possible, as the metal does not bend under its own weight due to softening during any processing stage, nor is it subject to thermal expansion. Furthermore, scale does not form on the surface due to chemical oxidation, which, when removed, would create uneven dents, which would interfere with cutting a smooth thread with uniformly sized teeth along the entire thread.
- The most rounded shape of all types of rolled tubular products facilitates joining during assembly work using electric arc welding, as well as metalworking during the manufacture of parts on lathes.
Despite the fact that round cold-rolled steel pipes have proven themselves to be excellent in practice, there is still plenty of room for the use of their analogues.
Analogues of round cold-rolled steel pipes for various purposes
The closest analogue in terms of properties is round hot-rolled steel pipe, which also has a strong, seamless wall and can operate reliably at elevated pressures. Its only drawback compared to cold-rolled steel is its slightly curved geometric shape. However, it also has advantages that are significant in some cases, such as a more uniform distribution of atomic bonds and metal grains in the crystalline structure. It's also worth mentioning other alternatives to round cold-rolled steel tubes.
Round electric-welded steel pipe
Having a lower cost round electric-welded steel pipe It is widely used in the assembly of lightly loaded sections of transport systems. Its manufacturing process is fundamentally different from the two types described above, as a flat sheet metal strip is bent on specialized machines to produce a hollow cylinder, followed by welding the joined edges together using automated welding machines. The overall energy consumption at all stages is reduced, ensuring the lowest cost.
Water and gas steel pipe
The intermediate value in terms of both cost and technical capabilities is water and gas steel pipe, the production technology of which differs only in the oblique direction of the weld seam, which is spiral-shaped. Due to this, it does not diverge when bent and is widely used for installing wiring systems in buildings with many turns.