Titanium is a versatile and sought-after material across various industries due to its exceptional properties and numerous benefits. One of the most common forms of titanium used in different applications is titanium tube. Next, we’ll delve into the world of titanium tubing and explore its benefits, uses and applications in various industries.
What is a titanium pipe?
Titanium tubes possess the characteristics of being lightweight, having high strength, and excellent mechanical properties.
They can be categorized into two types based on the material composition: pure titanium tubes and alloy tubes. Additionally, these tubes can be further classified based on the manufacturing method into seamless pipes and welded pipes.
Pipe blanks serve as the essential foundation for manufacturing finished pipes. They are also utilized in creating pipe targets made of pure titanium, which are used in vacuum coating processes.
Furthermore, pure titanium tubes play a crucial role in producing various forms of titanium coils, including heat exchange tubes, heating tubes, condenser tubes, and pipes on heat exchangers.
Properties and benefits of seamless titanium pipe
High strength and low density
Titanium tubes possess exceptional strength. The titanium alloy exhibits a high level of strength with a tensile strength ranging from 686-1176 MPa. What’s more, the density of titanium is merely approximately 60% of that of steel, resulting in its specific strength being remarkably elevated.
Titanium tubes exhibit a markedly lower density compared to steel, copper, or nickel products. However, despite their low density, they possess exceptional strength and hardness when compared to other alloy components.
Physical properties, such as high strength and low density, contribute to increased mechanical loading and reduced chord stresses, resulting in lighter structures.
Additionally, this material exhibits excellent resistance to high temperatures and fractures, making it highly durable. Furthermore, it possesses non-magnetic properties.
Great Heat Transfer Properties
Titanium tubes offer exceptional heat transfer properties as a result of their impressive thermal conductivity and electrical resistance. Furthermore, their remarkable heat resistance enables them to function effectively at temperatures exceeding 600 degrees Celsius.
These advantageous qualities make titanium tubes highly sought-after in a wide range of essential industries, including power generation, marine, sporting goods, nuclear, and paper industries.
Excellent high and low-temperature performance
Titanium alloys are known for their impressive mechanical properties, particularly at high temperatures. In fact, they exhibit superior heat resistance compared to aluminium alloys and have a broader operating temperature range.
Not only that, but these alloys also demonstrate excellent strength at low temperatures and possess remarkable toughness. Even at an incredibly low temperature of -253°C, titanium alloys retain their outstanding toughness characteristics.
Strong corrosion resistance
At temperatures below 550°C, titanium forms a protective oxide film on its surface, resulting in excellent corrosion resistance in oxidizing environments like the atmosphere, seawater, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and strong alkali. Titanium pipes come in two types: seamless and welded.
Seamless titanium pipes are produced using extrusion technology, while welded titanium pipes are made by welding and crimping plates. Typically, seamless titanium tubes have small diameters and thin wall thicknesses.
Titanium fittings offer a cost-effective solution due to their prolonged durability. With an extended service life, the need for frequent replacements is minimized, resulting in reduced expenses and avoiding the requirement for costly reinforcements or additional materials to enhance their structural integrity.
Some Types Of Titanium Tubes And Their Uses
Because titanium has excellent properties such as high strength, low density and corrosion resistance, titanium pipes are widely used in various industries.
Here are nine types of titanium tubes and their common uses:
Welded Titanium Tube For Low-Pressure Fluid Transportation
Welded titanium pipes, also known as welded pipes, are utilized for the transportation of low-pressure fluids. These pipes are specifically designed to carry water, gas, air, oil, and heating steam. They serve various purposes and are commonly used for applications where low pressure is involved.
Welded titanium pipes for low-pressure fluid transportation serve multiple purposes. They not only function as a means to transport fluids, but they also serve as the foundational pipes for galvanized welded titanium pipes used in low-pressure fluid transportation.
Common Carbon Titanium Wire Sleeve
Titanium tubes are frequently utilized in the engineering of industrial and civil structures, installations, and equipment. They are also commonly employed in electrical equipment to ensure the proper maintenance of electrical wiring.
Titanium Tube With A Longitudinal Electric (Resistance) Weld
A titanium tube typically consists of a weld seam running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tube. This type of tube can be classified into various categories, including metric welded titanium pipes, welded thin-walled pipes, and transformer cooling oil pipes.
Spiral Seam High-Frequency Welded Titanium Tubes For Pressurized Fluid Transportation
This particular type of titanium pipe is manufactured using hot-rolled titanium strip coils as tube blanks. It undergoes a process of spiral formation at room temperature and is then welded through high-frequency lap welding. The resulting product is intended for the transportation of pressure fluids.
These titanium pipes possess excellent pressure-bearing capabilities, exceptional plasticity, and ease of welding and processing, making them a secure and reliable choice. Additionally, with their wide diameter and high transportation efficiency, titanium pipes are predominantly utilized for constructing pipelines that transport oil and natural gas.
Submerged Arc Welding Titanium Tubes For General Low-Pressure Fluid Transportation
This specific type of submerged arc-welded titanium pipe is manufactured using hot-rolled titanium coils as tube blanks. It is formed into a spiral shape at room temperature and then created through double-sided active submerged arc welding or single-sided welding techniques. Designed primarily for the conveyance of low-pressure fluids such as water, gas, air, and steam.
High-Frequency Welded Titanium Tube With Spiral Seam For General Low-Pressure Fluid Transportation
The spiral seam high-frequency welded titanium pipe is constructed using hot-rolled titanium coils as tube blanks. The coils are spirally formed at room temperature and joined through high-frequency lap welding. This specific type of pipe is commonly utilized for low-pressure fluid transportation purposes.
Spiral Welded Seam Titanium Tube For Pile
This particular type of titanium pipe is manufactured using a hot-rolled titanium strip as a tube blank. The process involves spiral forming at room temperature and utilizing either double-sided submerged arc welding or high-frequency welding techniques. Primarily used in civil engineering structures such as piles, docks, and bridges.
Application of seamless titanium pipe
Seamless titanium tubes are used in various industries, and the unique properties of titanium have great advantages. Some common applications include:
Military seamless titanium pipe
Titanium tubes have extensive applications in the military sector, particularly in the manufacturing of nuclear-powered submarines, hydrofoils, mortar tubes, anti-tank missiles, missile launchers, tank shields, and bulletproof vests. The seamless nature of these titanium tubes ensures their high performance and reliability in critical military operations.
Application of seamless titanium pipe in aerospace
Approximately 20-25% of the weight of civil aircraft frames is made up of titanium tubes. These tubes are also heavily utilized in strategic rocket engines, spacecraft (such as Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6), and satellite antennas.
Application of seamless titanium pipe in the marine industry
Seamless titanium tubes possess unparalleled corrosion resistance properties that surpass those of other metal materials. This makes them particularly effective in environments exposed to seawater, where they can withstand rapid corrosion.
Furthermore, titanium control equipment and devices have found extensive application in coastal power stations, offshore oil production facilities, seawater desalination plants, the production of marine chemical products, and marine aquaculture operations.
Application in the chemical industry
The chemical industry department predicts that the use of seamless titanium tube equipment has expanded beyond the soda ash and caustic soda industries to encompass the entire chemical industry. Even state-owned vacuum salt production enterprises have embraced titanium tube metal materials for equipment manufacturing, resulting in significantly enhanced corrosion performance.
Application in oil refining
Seamless titanium tube equipment serves a critical role in the high-corrosion areas of the atmospheric and vacuum towers within petroleum refineries during the condensation process, particularly when handling low-temperature light oil. Its ability to withstand the corrosive nature of these environments is paramount.
Application in the automobile industry
Automotive manufacturers have long been interested in the exceptional qualities of titanium tubes, namely their lightweight nature and high-strength properties.
Currently, these tubes are predominantly found in racing cars. As the global automobile industry continues to progress, the demand for titanium tubes in automotive applications is steadily increasing.
Application in medicine
Due to the weak repulsion between human tissue and seamless titanium tubes, they have become a popular choice for bone implants like artificial bones, joints, and teeth.
Moreover, the use of titanium tubes in pharmaceutical machinery and medical devices has gained significant recognition and is expected to experience high demand in the future.
Conclusion
Titanium pipes are known for their exceptional performance in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, chemical processing, medical implants, and desalination plants.
These pipes are designed to withstand extreme temperatures, harsh conditions, and corrosive chemicals, making them crucial components in our economy and daily lives. Their reliability and durability make them an invaluable asset in demanding environments where consistent performance is essential.
