5 Facts You Need to Know About Stainless Steel Tubes

Unless you are a metal maestro, you may not know all there is to know about metal alloys and their properties. And from carbon steel to cast iron to stainless steel, there are several materials to choose from when it comes to tubing for hydraulic, pneumatic, or other industrial projects. When choosing which material is best for the job, why not weigh the pros and cons of the metal and its properties?

But before you become overwhelmed with alloy grades and chemical properties, let us help you organize your thoughts with some must-know facts about stainless steel tubing.

1 Strength & ductility: Stainless steel offers greater strength and higher mechanical properties than other tubing options including carbon steel and cast iron tubes. Even at high temperatures, stainless steel tubes keep their high tensile and stress-to-rupture strength. And because stainless steel is as strong as it is, the walls of stainless steel tubes can be made thinner, giving it higher ductility, as well.

2 Resistance: Thanks to its chromium, nickel and molybdenum composition, stainless steel tubing offers significantly more resistance to corrosive elements, oxidation, erosion, and high temperatures than most other metal tubes. And because it resists corrosive elements like those often found in seawater environments so well, stainless steel tubing is the premium choice for shipbuilding and maritime applications.

3 Heat Treatability & Welding Capabilities: Certain stainless steel alloys, such as 410, are heat treatable. This can be helpful when stainless steel tubes need to be modified to achieve certain physical or chemical properties. Certain stainless steel sheets can also be easily welded into various shapes and sizes.

4 Versatility: Stainless steel tubes work for an extensive range of applications thanks to its strength, ductility, durability, corrosion resistance, and lower coefficient of friction.

5 Cost Effectiveness: One of the most appealing benefits to hydraulic and pneumatic industry professionals is the fact that stainless steel tubes cost less to maintain and can save you money over time because of their long service life.

So is stainless steel tubing the best candidate for the job? If it is, you can also gain the peace of mind that you are simultaneously supporting a more sustainable environment. Stainless steel tubes are 100 percent recyclable and do not cause pollution.