The difference between steel pipe and iron pipe丨composition丨performance丨process丨field

Steel pipes and iron pipes are common types of pipes.In daily life,they both play an important role and are widely used in many industries such as construction,machinery,chemicals,and petroleum.However,although they look similar,there are essential differences between steel pipes and iron pipes.These differences are reflected in the composition,performance,production process,and application areas of the pipes.This article will introduce the differences between steel pipes and iron pipes in detail to help everyone better understand these two types of pipes.

Ⅰ.Differences in composition between steel pipes and iron pipes

1.1 Composition of steel pipe

Steel pipes are mainly made of steel.The main component of steel is iron(Fe),but it also contains a small amount of carbon(C),manganese(Mn),silicon(Si),sulfur(S),phosphorus(P)and other elements.In the manufacturing process of steel pipes,the performance of steel pipes can be adjusted by controlling the content of these elements.For example,increasing the carbon content can increase the hardness of the steel pipe,but too high a carbon content will increase the brittleness of the steel pipe.The addition of manganese helps to improve the strength and toughness of the steel pipe.

The main categories of steel pipes include carbon steel pipes and alloy steel pipes.Carbon steel pipes are mainly low-carbon steel and medium-carbon steel,with good weldability and processability,suitable for general structures and fluid transportation.Alloy steel pipes add alloy elements such as chromium(Cr),molybdenum(Mo),vanadium(V),etc.to carbon steel,making the steel pipes have higher corrosion resistance,high temperature resistance and pressure resistance.

1.2 Composition of iron pipe

Iron pipes are usually made of cast iron or malleable cast iron.Cast iron is mainly composed of iron,but its carbon content is relatively high,usually above 2%,and it also contains elements such as silicon,manganese,phosphorus,and sulfur.This high carbon content of iron pipe makes it more brittle than steel pipe,so cast iron pipe is generally not suitable for applications that require high strength and toughness.

In the composition of iron pipes,the addition of silicon can improve the fluidity of cast iron,making it easier to shape during the casting process;while manganese can improve the strength and corrosion resistance of cast iron.Due to the simple manufacturing process and low cost of iron pipes,iron pipes still have a place in some non-high-strength projects.

Ⅱ.Performance Differences between Steel Pipes and Iron Pipes

2.1 Performance of steel pipe

The excellent performance of the steel pipe is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

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High strength:The steel pipe has high tensile strength and is suitable for bearing greater mechanical stress.

Good toughness:The steel pipe has strong toughness,is not prone to brittle fracture,and can operate stably under high pressure and high temperature conditions.

Strong corrosion resistance:After special treatment,alloy steel pipes can have strong corrosion resistance and are suitable for harsh environments such as petroleum and chemical industries.

Good weldability:Steel pipes are easy to weld and enable complex pipeline construction.

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Therefore,steel pipes are widely used in many fields such as construction,energy,transportation,etc.,especially in industries with high requirements on strength and toughness,such as oil and natural gas transportation,building structures,etc.,steel pipes are widely used.

2.2 Performance of iron pipe

Compared with steel pipes,the performance of iron pipes is insufficient,mainly manifested in:

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Low strength:The tensile strength of iron pipes is relatively low and is not suitable for working environments that withstand heavy loads.

Brittleness:Iron pipes are prone to brittle fracture due to their high carbon content,so they are not suitable for use in high temperature or high pressure environments.

Poor corrosion resistance:Cast iron pipes are easily corroded,especially in humid,acidic and alkaline environments.Iron pipes have poor corrosion resistance and therefore need to be treated with anti-corrosion treatment.

Poor processability:Iron pipes are difficult to process,especially in projects that require precise dimensions and complex shapes.Cast iron pipes are difficult to process.

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Due to these performance limitations of iron pipes,they are mainly used in low-strength,low-pressure environments,such as water supply pipes,heating pipes and other fields.

Ⅲ.Differences in production process between steel pipes and iron pipes

3.1 Production process of steel pipe

There are usually two ways to produce steel pipes:hot rolling and cold drawing.

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Hot rolled steel pipe:Hot rolling is to heat the steel billet to a certain temperature,and then press and stretch it through a rolling mill to make the required steel pipe.Hot rolled steel pipe has good strength and toughness,but poor surface quality,and usually requires further processing or coating.

Cold drawn steel pipe:Cold drawing is the process of stretching the hot rolled steel pipe through cold working.The cold drawn steel pipe has high precision and smooth surface,and is suitable for applications with high requirements on dimensional accuracy and surface quality.

Seamless steel pipe:Seamless steel pipe is manufactured by extrusion and expansion process,there is no welding joint inside,it has high strength and pressure resistance.Seamless steel pipe is widely used in high pressure and high temperature environment such as petroleum,natural gas,chemical industry,etc.

Welded steel pipe:Welded steel pipe is made by welding steel plates or steel strips at a certain temperature.The production process is simple and the cost is low,but the strength of the weld is low and it is suitable for low-pressure environments.

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3.2 Iron pipe production process

The production process of iron pipes is relatively simple,mainly through casting.The production process of cast iron pipes includes smelting molten iron,casting,cooling and cleaning.Due to the simple production process of cast iron pipes,their cost is low,but due to their high brittleness,they are difficult to further process.

Common types of cast iron pipes are gray cast iron pipes and malleable cast iron pipes.Gray cast iron pipes are often used for low-pressure water supply pipes,while malleable cast iron pipes have a certain toughness and are suitable for medium or high pressure environments.

Ⅳ.Differences in application fields between steel pipes and iron pipes

4.1 Application fields of steel pipes

Steel pipes are widely used in many industries due to their excellent performance,mainly including:

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Construction industry:Steel pipes are widely used in building structures,bridge construction,steel structure installation and other fields,and can provide good strength and stability.

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Oil and gas industry:Steel pipes are the preferred material for oil and gas pipelines,especially in environments that require resistance to high pressure,high temperature,and corrosion,where alloy steel pipes and seamless steel pipes are particularly important.

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Chemical Industry:In the manufacture of chemical equipment,heat exchangers and reactor pipelines,steel pipes are widely used due to their corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance.

Transportation Industry:Steel pipes are widely used in the manufacture of vehicles such as automobiles,ships,and railways,providing strength and durability.

Energy industry:Steel pipes are widely used in energy production facilities such as power stations and nuclear power plants to transport steam,gas,liquids,etc.

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4.2 Application fields of iron pipes

The application scope of iron pipes is relatively limited,mainly used in the following fields:

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Water supply system:Iron pipes are widely used in urban water supply and rural water supply systems.Due to their low cost and easy production,cast iron pipes have become the traditional water supply pipeline material.

Heating system:Iron pipes are also widely used in some traditional heating systems.

Drainage system:Iron pipes are also commonly used in the construction of sewage and drainage pipes,especially in some low-pressure environments,where cast iron pipes are more commonly used.

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V.Conclusion

There are significant differences between steel pipes and iron pipes in terms of composition,performance,production process and application fields.Steel pipes are widely used in modern industry due to their excellent strength,toughness and corrosion resistance,especially in high-demand fields such as petroleum,natural gas and chemical industry.Due to its lower cost,iron pipes are mainly used in low-pressure,low-intensity environments,such as water supply and heating systems.Understanding the difference between the two will help us choose the appropriate pipe materials during the project and ensure the smooth progress of the project.

Through these methods,you can obtain potential customers in the steel pipe industry more efficiently and improve development efficiency.