Common steel pipes mainly include welded pipes and seamless pipes (SMLS). In the process of engineering construction, appropriate steel pipes will be selected in combination with specific construction conditions, and cost will be the primary factor. Therefore, this paper distinguishes welded steel pipes and seamless steel pipes from the aspects of steel pipe performance, technology and identification methods, hoping to provide reference for the selection of steel pipes in the process of engineering construction.
There are three main ways to identify welded pipes and seamless pipes (smls):
1. Metallographic method
Metallographic method is one of the main methods to distinguish welded pipes and seamless pipes. High-frequency resistance welded pipe (ERW) does not add welding materials, so the weld seam in the welded steel pipe is very narrow, and the weld seam cannot be clearly seen if the method of rough grinding and corrosion is used. Once the high-frequency resistance welded steel pipe is welded without heat treatment, the structure of the weld seam will be essentially different from the parent material of the steel pipe. At this time, the metallographic method can be used to distinguish the welded steel pipe from the seamless steel pipe. In the process of identifying the two steel pipes, it is necessary to cut a small sample with a length and width of 40 mm at the welding point, conduct rough grinding, fine grinding and polishing on it, and then observe the structure under a metallographic microscope. Welded steel pipes and seamless steel pipes can be accurately distinguished when ferrite and widmansite, base metal and weld zone microstructures are observed.
2. Corrosion method
In the process of using the corrosion method to identify welded pipes and seamless pipes, the welded seam of the processed welded steel pipe should be polished. After the grinding is completed, the traces of grinding should be visible, and then the end face of the welded seam should be polished with sandpaper. And use 5% nitric acid alcohol solution to treat the end face. If there is an obvious weld, it can prove that the steel pipe is a welded steel pipe. However, the end face of the seamless steel pipe has no obvious difference after being corroded.
Properties of welded pipe
Welded steel pipe has the following properties due to high-frequency welding, cold rolling and other processes.
First, the heat preservation function is good. The heat loss of welded steel pipes is relatively small, only 25%, which is not only conducive to transportation, but also reduces costs.
Second, it has waterproof and corrosion resistance. In the process of engineering construction, it is not necessary to set up pipe trenches separately.
It can be directly buried in the ground or underwater, thereby reducing the construction difficulty of the project.
Third, it has impact resistance. Even in a low temperature environment, the steel pipe will not be damaged, so its performance has certain advantages.
Properties of seamless pipe
Due to the high tensile strength of the metal material of the seamless steel pipe, its ability to resist damage is stronger, and it has a hollow channel, so it can effectively transport fluid. Steel pipe, and its rigidity is relatively large. Therefore, the more load the seamless steel pipe can carry, it can be widely used in projects with higher construction requirements.
3. Distinguish according to the process
In the process of identifying welded pipes and seamless pipes according to the process, welded steel pipes are welded according to cold rolling, extrusion and other processes. When the steel pipe is welded, it will form a spiral welded pipe and a straight seam welded pipe, and will form a round steel pipe, a square steel pipe, an oval steel pipe, a triangular steel pipe, a hexagonal steel pipe, a rhombus steel pipe, an octagonal steel pipe, and even a more complex steel pipe.
In short, different processes will form steel pipes of different shapes, so that welded steel pipes and seamless steel pipes can be clearly distinguished. However, in the process of identifying seamless steel pipes according to the process, it is mainly based on the hot rolling and cold rolling treatment methods. There are mainly two types of seamless steel pipes, which are divided into hot-rolled seamless steel pipes and cold-rolled seamless steel pipes. Hot-rolled seamless steel pipes are formed by piercing, rolling and other processes, especially large-diameter and thick seamless steel pipes are welded by this process; cold-drawn pipes are formed by cold-drawing tube blanks, and the strength of the material is lower , but its exterior and internal control surfaces are smooth.
Welded steel pipes have higher bending and torsional strength and more load-bearing capacity, so they are generally widely used in the manufacture of mechanical parts. For example, oil drill pipes, automobile drive shafts, bicycle frames, and steel scaffolding used in building construction are all made of welded steel pipes. However, seamless steel pipes can be used as pipes for conveying fluids because they have hollow sections and long strips of steel without seams around them. For example, it can be used as a pipeline for transporting oil, natural gas, gas, water, etc. In addition, the bending strength of seamless steel pipe is relatively small, so it is generally widely used in superheated steam pipes for low and medium pressure boilers, boiling water pipes and superheated steam pipes for locomotive boilers. In short, through the classification of uses, we can clearly distinguish welded steel pipes and seamless steel pipes.