What materials are mechanical tubes made of?

What are the materials of mechanical tubes?

Mechanical tubes for construction machinery mainly include carbon steel tubes, alloy steel tubes, stainless steel tubes, aluminum alloy tubes, titanium alloy tubes and copper tubes, etc. Each pipe has its own unique characteristics and application areas.

When selecting mechanical tubes for construction machinery processing, factors such as processing technology, processing accuracy, material strength, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance need to be considered. The main materials of steel pipes for mechanical processing include the following:

1. Carbon steel tube

Carbon steel tube is one of the commonly used pipes in construction machinery. It is widely popular because of its moderate price and easy processing and welding. Carbon steel pipe has good strength and toughness, can withstand greater pressure and impact, and is suitable for hydraulic systems and structural components of various construction machinery. In addition, carbon steel pipe also has good corrosion resistance and can be used for a long time in humid and corrosive environments.

2. Alloy steel tube
Alloy steel tube is a pipe made by adding a certain proportion of alloy elements to carbon steel tube, which has high strength and hardness. The addition of alloy elements further improves the performance of the pipe, such as improving the wear resistance and high temperature resistance of the pipe. Therefore, alloy steel tubes are suitable for engineering machinery under extreme conditions such as high temperature and high pressure. For example, alloy steel tubes are often used as key components in oil drilling machinery, mining machinery and other occasions that need to withstand high temperature and high pressure.

3. Stainless steel tube
Stainless steel tubes are widely used in the field of engineering machinery due to their excellent corrosion resistance. Stainless steel can effectively resist corrosion such as oxidation and rust, so that stainless steel pipes can maintain good performance even in harsh environments. At the same time, stainless steel tubes also have high strength and toughness, which can meet the requirements of engineering machinery for pipe strength and stability. Seamless stainless steel pipes are often used to manufacture key components such as hydraulic components, valves, and pipelines.

4. Aluminum alloy tube
Aluminum alloy tubes are synthesized from aluminum and other elements. Aluminum is a lightweight metal that is lighter than other metals such as steel and copper. Therefore, aluminum alloy pipes are lighter and easier to carry and install. In addition, aluminum alloy pipes also have high strength, good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, and are suitable for manufacturing some light mechanical parts, automobile frames, wires and cables, and aerospace equipment.

5. Titanium alloy tube

Titanium alloy tubes are pipes made of titanium alloys. The strength of titanium alloys is comparable to that of steel, but its density is only about 60% of that of steel, which makes titanium alloys have significant advantages in reducing weight. Titanium has high corrosion resistance to chlorides, sulfides and ammonia, and its corrosion resistance in seawater is higher than that of aluminum alloys, stainless steel and nickel-based alloys. Titanium alloy tubes also have high strength, good corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, and are suitable for manufacturing some high-strength and high-precision mechanical parts, such as aircraft engine compressor parts, rockets, missiles and high-speed aircraft structural parts. It is also used to manufacture condenser tubes, which can be used in polluted seawater, water with high suspended matter content, and at high flow rates.

6. Copper tube
Copper mechanical tubes have good electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as strong corrosion resistance, so they are widely used in some special occasions. Copper mechanical tubes are relatively expensive and are generally used in the connection of some electrical circuits.

The characteristics of different materials are as follows:
Carbon steel tubes: have good processing performance and weldability, suitable for low and medium strength mechanical parts.
Alloy steel tubes: have high strength and hardness, suitable for high strength mechanical parts.
Stainless steel tubes: have good corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, suitable for chemical and food processing equipment.
Aluminum alloy tubes: light weight, high strength, suitable for light mechanical parts and aerospace equipment.
Titanium alloy tubes: high strength, light weight, suitable for high strength mechanical parts and aerospace equipment.
Copper tubes: have good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, easy processing and durable, suitable for manufacturing heat exchange equipment and low temperature pipelines.

Conclusion: 

There are many types of mechanical steel pipes, each with its own unique characteristics and application areas. When selecting pipes, it is necessary to make comprehensive considerations based on the actual needs of engineering machinery and the working environment to ensure that the selected pipes can meet the performance requirements and service life of engineering machinery. At the same time, factors such as cost and feasibility should also be considered when selecting steel pipe materials. With the development of science and technology, the continuous emergence of new pipes will bring more choices and possibilities to the field of engineering machinery.

Read more: ASTM A519 Seamless Mechanical Tube or Mechanical Tubing vs. Structural Tubing