Titanium Pipes & Tubes
Giriraj Impex stocks, supplies and exports titanium pipes and tubes in Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 7, Grade 12 and other grades on request. We supply titanium seamless pipe to ASTM B861, welded pipe to ASTM B862, and seamless and welded condenser and heat-exchanger tubes to ASTM B338 / ASME SB338, from approved mills, with mill test certificates.
Titanium pipes and tubes are used where seawater, chlorides, chlorine and oxidising chemicals would attack stainless steel and copper alloys – in seawater-cooled condensers and heat exchangers, desalination plants, offshore firewater and cooling systems, and chlor-alkali, bleach and chemical plants.
Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Seamless pipe | ASTM B861 / ASME SB861 |
| Welded pipe | ASTM B862 / ASME SB862 |
| Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 – seamless and welded |
| Grades | Grade 1 (R50250), Grade 2 (R50400), Grade 7 (R52400), Grade 12 (R53400); Grade 9 and others on request |
| Dimensions | Pipe to ASME B36.19M and B36.10M; tube by OD and wall thickness (BWG or mm) |
| Condition | Annealed |
| Ends | Plain, bevelled; U-bent tubes on request |
| Tests | Hydrostatic or pneumatic test, eddy-current or ultrasonic test, flattening and flare tests as the specification requires |
| Documents | Mill test certificate (MTC); third-party inspection on request |
Chemical composition and mechanical properties
| Grade | UNS | N | C | H | Fe | O | Al | V | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | R50250 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.20 | 0.18 | – | – | – |
| Grade 2 | R50400 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.30 | 0.25 | – | – | – |
| Grade 5 | R56400 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.40 | 0.20 | 5.5–6.75 | 3.5–4.5 | – |
| Grade 7 | R52400 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.30 | 0.25 | – | – | Pd 0.12–0.25 |
| Grade 12 | R53400 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.30 | 0.25 | – | – | Mo 0.2–0.4, Ni 0.6–0.9 |
Hydrogen limits differ slightly between product forms; residual element limits as given in each ASTM specification.
| Grade | Tensile strength, MPa (ksi) | Yield strength 0.2%, MPa (ksi) | Elongation, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 240 (35) | 138 (20) | 24 |
| Grade 2 | 345 (50) | 275 (40) | 20 |
| Grade 5 | 895 (130) | 828 (120) | 10 |
| Grade 7 | 345 (50) | 275 (40) | 20 |
| Grade 12 | 483 (70) | 345 (50) | 18 |
Grades 1, 2 and 7 also have maximum yield strength limits. Values are typical of ASTM B265 and B348; check the specification for the product form.
Background on each grade is on the titanium page.
Titanium tubes for condensers and heat exchangers
Grade 2 titanium tubes to ASTM B338 are used in power station and refinery condensers, seawater coolers and plate and shell-and-tube heat exchangers on offshore platforms and in desalination plants. Titanium is practically immune to seawater corrosion at normal temperatures, including pitting, crevice corrosion, erosion at high water velocities and attack by polluted or sulphide-bearing water. Because of this, titanium tubes can be specified with thin walls, which improves heat transfer and offsets part of the material cost, and they give long service lives with little risk of tube leaks.
Welded titanium tubes, made from strip and fully inspected, are widely used in condensers because of their consistent wall thickness; seamless tubes are used for higher-pressure duties.
Choosing the grade
Grade 2 is the standard grade for most pipe and tube applications, offering good strength, formability and weldability. Grade 1 is softer and used where tubes must be heavily formed or expanded. Grade 7, with palladium, and Grade 12, with molybdenum and nickel, resist crevice corrosion in hot brines and chloride solutions above about 70 °C and in mildly reducing acids, so they are used in chlor-alkali plants, hot brine heaters and some chemical processes. Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V) is used for higher-strength tubing on request.
Titanium piping systems
Titanium pipe is used for seawater intake and cooling lines, offshore firewater ring mains and deluge systems, chlorine and chlorine dioxide lines in pulp and paper bleach plants, wet chlorine and hypochlorite service, and nitric acid and some organic acid lines. Its low density – about 60% of steel – reduces the weight of offshore piping and supports. Systems are often designed with titanium pipe and fittings, and titanium stub ends with loose steel lap joint flanges to reduce cost.
Fabrication
Titanium pipe and tube are welded by TIG with full inert-gas shielding of the weld pool, the hot metal behind it and the inside of the pipe, using trailing shields and purge gas, because titanium picks up oxygen and nitrogen when hot and becomes brittle. The weld colour – bright silver to light straw – is the accepted indication of adequate shielding. Workshops keep titanium separate from carbon steel and use dedicated tools. Tubes are expanded into tube sheets in the annealed condition.
Ordering titanium pipes and tubes
Please give the grade, specification, seamless or welded, outside diameter or nominal size, wall thickness or schedule, length, end finish, quantity and any supplementary testing or inspection. Pipes and tubes are packed in wooden boxes with end caps, and each length is marked with grade, specification, size and heat number.
Applications and related products
Titanium pipes and tubes are used in condensers and heat exchangers, desalination, offshore cooling and firewater systems, chlor-alkali and bleach plants, and chemical processing. Matching products include titanium sheets and plates, titanium round bars, titanium flanges, titanium pipe fittings and titanium fasteners. Pipes and tubes in other materials are on the seamless pipes and tubes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
ASTM B861 covers seamless titanium pipe, ASTM B862 covers welded titanium pipe, and ASTM B338 covers seamless and welded titanium tubes for condensers and heat exchangers.
Grade 2 commercially pure titanium is the standard grade for condenser and heat-exchanger tubes in seawater service.
Titanium is practically immune to seawater corrosion at normal temperatures, including pitting, crevice corrosion and erosion, so tubes last long and can have thin walls.
Grade 7 is Grade 2 with 0.12–0.25% palladium, which greatly improves resistance to crevice corrosion in hot chloride solutions and reducing acids.
By TIG with full inert-gas shielding of the weld pool, the hot metal and the pipe bore, so that the hot titanium is not contaminated by air.
Yes. Titanium heat-exchanger tubes can be supplied straight or U-bent on request.
Request a Quote for Titanium Pipes & Tubes
Tell us the product, grade, size, standard, quantity and delivery location, and our sales team will reply with a quotation.