All About Steel Pipe
Steel pipes are long, hollow tubes that serve a wide range of functions. Their versatility makes them one of the most commonly used products in the steel industry, and each year millions of tons of steel pipe are manufactured and sold around the world. Since steel pipe is both durable and lightweight, it’s commonly used in city water, gas, heating and plumbing systems, as well as in everyday items such as cars, flagpoles, street lamps and fridges. Similarly, steel pipe is often utilized by the construction industry in shipbuilding, architecture, oil refineries and more.
Steel Pipe History
Though the invention of the pipe can be traced back to ancient China (where people used hollow reeds to transport water), the modern day welded steel pipe has its origins in 19th century London. In the early 1800s, William Murdock invented the coal burning lamp system, but he had no way to easily outfit the city of London with these lights. As a solution, he joined together the barrels of discarded muskets, creating a continuous pipeline that could transport the gas. His lighting system was a success, and it created demand for long metal tubes in other industries—hence, the beginning of the steel pipe.
How Steel Pipes Are Made
Since its introduction in the early 1800s, steel pipe production has slowly evolved into the process used today. Steel pipes are made by casting raw steel into a more workable starting form. From there, the pipes are molded in one of two ways: by stretching the steel out into a seamless tube, or by forcing the edges of the steel together and sealing it with a weld. In the first method, the final steel pipe will have no seam. If the second method is used, the pipe will have a seam.
Welded vs. Seamless Steel Pipe
Welded steel pipes—the ones with a seam—are used differently than seamless steel pipes. Seamless pipes are typically more lightweight and have thinner walls, and they’re used to make things like bicycles and liquid transportation pipes. Welded or seamed pipes, on the other hand, are heavier and better for transporting gas, electrical conduit and plumbing. For a more in-depth overview of welded vs. seamless steel pipe, check out one of our previous blog posts.
Steel Pipe Materials and Characteristics
The main raw material used in steel pipe production is steel, which is made up primarily of iron. However, steel pipe commonly includes other elements such as aluminum, manganese, titanium, tungsten, vanadium and zirconium. Similarly, finishing materials are sometimes applied to help protect the pipe.
Steel pipes come in a wide range of shapes and styles. The diameter of a steel pipe can range from a tiny tube used to make hypodermic needles to large pipes used to transport gas throughout a city. They can be short or long, have a thick wall or a thin one, and can be finished with varying coating materials. Often, steel pipes are manufactured for an intended purpose, and their characteristics are modified during production to better fit their task.
The Popularity of Steel Pipe
Steel pipe is popular for many reasons. First, it’s durable. The strength of steel makes it a great option for most projects since it can withstand vibrations, shock and high pressure. Unlike other metals, steel with bend rather than break in extreme conditions, which means it’s less likely to crack or leak.
Unlike other metals, steel pipe is long lasting and resistant to many chemical reactions that cause corrosion. For this reason, steel pipe is low maintenance and will last long beyond its installation.
Steel pipe is easy to install. The metal can be customized to any height, width or strength, and it can be modified on site as needed. Because of this, steel pipe is considered one of the most versatile and convenient kinds of pipe.
Finally, steel pipe has a high capacity. It’s stronger than most other types of metal and can be made larger or thinner without compromising its durability. In many industries, this durability is what makes steel pipe a necessary choice.
BUY AND SELL WITH EIFFEL TRADING
Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace has a variety of used steel materials available, including used steel pipe, used and surplus sheet pile, and used and surplus wide flange beams. In addition to used materials, we have a large assortment of equipment including used trucks, used trenchers, and everything in between.
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Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.