What is MS rectangular tube?

What is MS rectangular tube?

MS rectangular tube, also known as mild steel rectangular tube, is a hollow structural profile (HSS) made of mild steel. It is a rectangular metal tube commonly used in construction, engineering and various industrial applications. It is characterized by high strength, light weight, good corrosion resistance, easy processing, weldability, etc. Let’s take a closer look at the material characteristics and uses of MS rectangular tubes.

Rectangular tube material:

Rectangular tubes are made of a wide variety of materials, and common materials include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, etc. Among them, carbon steel is the most commonly used material. According to different carbon content, it can be divided into ordinary carbon structural steel and high-quality carbon structural steel. Low carbon steel is an ordinary carbon structural steel with a carbon content generally between 0.05% and 0.25%. Rectangular tubes can be divided into two types: seamless rectangular tubes and welded rectangular tubes according to the production process. According to different cross-sectional shapes, they can be divided into square tubes and rectangular tubes.

Characteristics of low carbon steel:
Mild steel usually refers to carbon steel with a carbon content of less than 0.25%. It is also called mild steel because of its low strength, low hardness and softness. It includes most ordinary carbon structural steel and some high-quality carbon structural steel. Most of them are used for engineering structural parts without heat treatment, and some are used for mechanical parts requiring wear resistance after carburizing and other heat treatments.

The annealed structure of low carbon steel is ferrite and a small amount of pearlite, which has lower strength and hardness and better plasticity and toughness. Therefore, it has good cold formability and can be cold formed by curling, bending, stamping and other methods. In addition, this steel has good weldability.

Characteristics of MS rectangular tube:
1. Material: MS rectangular tube is made of mild steel, a type of mild steel known for its durability and strength.
2. Shape: As the name suggests, MS rectangular tube has a rectangular cross-section. They are available in various sizes and thicknesses to meet different requirements.
3. Hollow structure: MS rectangular tube is hollow inside, making it light in weight while maintaining structural strength. This design helps reduce the overall weight of the structure.
4. Low cost: Compared with other steel materials, low carbon steel is relatively cheap, and its lower carbon content can also reduce environmental pollution.
5. Weldable: Mild steel is easy to weld, allowing the use of MS rectangular tubes to manufacture various structures and frames.
6. Mechanical properties: It has good plasticity and toughness, can be manufactured into various shapes, and has high strength and hardness.

Uses of MS rectangular tube:
1. Construction: Due to its strength and load-bearing capacity, MS rectangular tubes are often used in construction projects for building frames, supports and columns.
2. Fences: They are used in fencing applications to provide a strong and secure perimeter to a property.
3. Automotive: In some cases, MS rectangular tubes are used in the automotive industry to manufacture components such as roll cages and chassis components.
4. Industrial Machinery: These pipes are also used in the manufacturing of industrial machinery and equipment.

5. Furniture: MS rectangular tubes are used to make furniture frames such as tables, chairs and shelves due to their durability and versatility.

MS Welded Rectangular Tubes VS. MS Seamless Rectangular Tubes:

MS rectangular tubes can be divided into MS welded (ERW) rectangular tubes and MS seamless rectangular tubes based on their production process.

MS welded rectangular tubes:
Made by bending steel plates or strips into shape and then welding them, they have weld seams, offer high production efficiency, and are relatively low in cost. Welded rectangular tubes may have stress concentrations in their weld seams, resulting in slightly lower strength than seamless tubes. ERW rectangular tubes are the most commonly used.

MS seamless rectangular tubes:
Formed by piercing, rolling, or cold drawing round steel billets, they have no weld seams and offer superior overall performance, but at a higher cost. Seamless rectangular tubes are divided into hot-rolled rectangular tubes and cold-drawn (rolled) rectangular tubes based on their production process.

1. Hot-rolled seamless rectangular tubes:
Heat-rolled steel billets are rolled into shape, resulting in thicker walls. They are suitable for load-bearing structures and mechanical components.

2. Cold-drawn (cold-rolled) seamless rectangular tubes:
Drawn or rolled through dies at room temperature, they offer high dimensional accuracy and a smooth surface. They are suitable for precision machinery, hydraulic systems, and other applications.

Cold-formed rectangular tubes:
Through a cold-formed process, steel strips are directly rolled into square shapes, then welded or seamlessly finished. Suitable for thin-walled, lightweight structures such as shelves, decorative tubes, and door and window frames.

Read more: Manufacturing Process of MS Rectangular Tube or Rectangular tube size