7 Things to Consider When Purchasing Stainless Steel ERW Pipes

What is stainless steel ERW welded pipe?

Stainless steel ERW pipes are commonly used steel pipes made of stainless steel or steel strips and welded after being crimped and formed by the unit and mold. The production process of ERW welded pipes is simple, the production efficiency is high, the varieties and specifications are many, and the equipment investment is low, but the general strength is lower than that of stainless steel seamless pipes.

7 Key Factors Influencing the Selection of ERW Stainless Steel Pipes:

When purchasing stainless steel ERW pipe, there are several factors to consider to ensure that the ERW pipe you choose meets specific needs and standards. Here are some key factors:

1. Types of stainless steel ERW pipe materials

Stainless steel ERW pipe is a pipe with good corrosion resistance and is widely used in various industrial and civil fields. Select the appropriate stainless steel material based on the required strength, toughness and hardness requirements. Common stainless steel materials include 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel and 321 stainless steel, etc. The commonly used standard is ASTM A312. Different types of stainless steel materials have different mechanical properties and are suitable for different fields, such as steel structures, food industry, machinery manufacturing, medical equipment, chemical industry, marine environment, etc.

2. Understand the specifications and dimensions of stainless steel ERW pipes
The specifications of stainless steel ERW pipes have many requirements such as outer diameter, wall thickness, length, etc. When purchasing stainless steel ERW pipes, the required specifications need to be determined based on the specific use to meet the material strength and size requirements.

3. Chemical composition‌
Select the appropriate chemical composition based on the required performance requirements such as strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, etc. Chromium is a key component of stainless steel, and its content is usually between 15% and 30%. The main function of chromium is to form a dense chromium oxide film on the surface of steel, thereby improving the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. In addition, increasing the chromium content can improve the wear resistance, hardness and toughness of stainless steel. When the chromium content of steel reaches 13%, it can be considered stainless steel. Therefore, the higher the chromium content, the better the overall properties of stainless steel such as corrosion resistance, toughness and weldability.

‌4. Quality Assurance‌
Check the qualifications of stainless steel pipe suppliers and choose suppliers with corresponding qualifications, rich experience, and reliable production quality to ensure that the purchased stainless steel ERW pipes meet relevant national standards and quality requirements. And check its quality certificate and chemical composition report to ensure that the steel plate meets your needs‌.

‌5. Reasonable price‌
When purchasing stainless steel ERW pipes, you should pay attention to cost performance and choose products with reasonable prices. Look for multiple suppliers. The quality and price of materials provided by different suppliers may vary. It is recommended to compare multiple suppliers before purchasing and choose a supplier with high credibility and reasonable price.

6. Processing performance‌
According to the specific processing needs, select the appropriate stainless steel material. Different stainless steel materials will have differences in cold working, hot working and welding.

‌7. Application environment‌

Consider the environmental conditions in which the material will be used. Different environmental conditions may have requirements on the corrosion resistance and heat resistance of materials.

Determine the purchasing process of stainless steel ERW pipes:

1. Sign a purchase contract: After selecting a supplier, you need to sign a purchase contract. The contract content should include specific contents such as purchase quantity, specifications, delivery time, quality acceptance standards, payment method, etc.
2. Pay deposit or full payment: According to the contract requirements, pay deposit or full payment as required.
3. Material acceptance: After receiving the materials, multiple inspections such as appearance inspection, dimensional inspection, and chemical composition testing are required to ensure that the materials meet the acceptance standards.

4. Complete the purchase transaction: After the materials are accepted and accepted, complete the remaining payment and complete the purchase transaction.

Application fields of stainless steel ERW pipes of different materials:

1. 304 stainless steel welded pipe: It is a common stainless steel welded pipe material with good corrosion resistance and is suitable for pipeline systems in general environments.
2. 316 stainless steel welded pipe: more corrosion-resistant than 304 stainless steel, especially suitable for use in highly corrosive environments such as marine environments and chemical industries.

3. 321 stainless steel welded pipe: It has high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for pipeline systems in high temperature environments. It is often used in furnace smelting and petrochemical industries.
4. 904L stainless steel welded pipe: It has high strength and corrosion resistance, and is suitable for marine environments, acidic environments and environments with high chloride content.

5. 2205 stainless steel welded pipe: a duplex stainless steel that has both good corrosion resistance and high strength. It is suitable for highly corrosive environments such as the chemical industry and papermaking industry.

6. 317L stainless steel welded pipe: It has higher corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and is suitable for highly corrosive and high-temperature environments such as chemical industry, marine environment and petroleum industry.
7. 400 series stainless steel welded pipes: including 410, 420, 430 and other materials, with good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, suitable for pipeline systems in general environments.

Conclusion:

When purchasing stainless steel ERW welded pipes, factors such as the type, mechanical properties, specifications, chemical composition, quality assurance, price, processing performance and application environment of stainless steel need to be comprehensively considered to ensure that the purchased ERW pipes meet specific usage requirements and standards.

Read more: ERW pipe vs. HFW pipe