We are tubing specialists who provide their clients with an extensive range of ERW tube items. There are many shapes available, in addition to more than 200 different sizes. All these options enable us to meet a wide array of requirements. Clients will only receive the best of products from our team.
As a way of shifting gases, liquids, and other substances, tubes are critical in many applications. Steel and iron are among the most used materials for them. Both have their uses and special characteristics as well. What we are going to do in this post is compare the two. We’ll go over their pros, cons, and characteristics.
Iron has limits while steel is versatile
Cast iron is a heavy, brittle metal. It has seen extensive use in tube making. In fact, it’s been used for centuries because it is a long-lasting and dependable material. Saying this, it has a few disadvantages. They make it inappropriate for contemporary projects. Tubes made of cast iron are also heavy. This makes transportation and installation tricky in bigger quantities.
Steel tubes have a substantial advantage when it comes to versatility. They come in a multitude of sizes and shapes, enabling you to use them for countless applications. Examples include sewage treatment, gas distribution, and water transportation. It is not difficult to weld steel either. If it was, creating ERW tube would be much harder.
Iron has some benefits
Despite the restrictions, iron tubes aren’t entirely worthless. They last a while and are strong. This means they are a good choice for applications demanding a lot of pressure and stress. Cast iron is fire resistant too, making the tube suitable for fire protection applications.
In additionally, cast iron tubes have wonderful sound-deadening characteristics. This means you can use them in environments where you need to control noise.
Advantages of steel
Steel is an iron-carbon alloy that can also include other elements. As a result, the material is considerably stronger and more durable. It is also lighter, making installation and transportation easier. This is a big bonus with ERW tube and can make them the most cost effective option.
Corrosion
One of the biggest things to look at here is corrosion. It can cause big trouble with various metals, eating away at them so they become brittle. It can result in leaks and failures. Cast iron tubes are vulnerable to corrosion, but they tend to develop a patina to stop it from getting deep into the metal. Steel tubes are also sensitive, however you can choose alloys with much better resistance.
The environment
It is also a good idea to look at how the metals impact the environment. The great thing here is both iron and steel are recyclable. So, you can reuse the resources time and again. This gives them advantages over other materials that only have a single use.
The two differ with applications
Finally, the two differ in terms of their uses. Iron tubes are usually employed in applications where durability and strength are essential. For instance, they are common in the construction of bridges, buildings, and similar structures. Additionally, people use them for water distribution. Here, they need to withstand the high fluid pressure.
As for steel tubes, they are useful in a plethora of applications. Examples include sewage treatment, gas distribution, water transport, and more. Also, we need them in projects where ease of installation and flexibility are necessary. Heating and plumbing systems are good examples. Not to mention, the oil and gas industry gets plenty of use out of them. Here, the tubes have to endure high degrees of pressure and stress.
We aim to satisfy our clients with every ERW tube
At Union Steel Tubes, we test all our products thoroughly to ensure their quality. Another thing we prioritise is the deliveries. We want clients to have their orders with them ASAP. Stock items typically get to you the next day. However, if you have an emergency, we can sometimes arrange same-day delivery.
So, if your situation calls for ERW tube, please let us know. We can help you to choose the right product, considering the size, wall thickness, length, and finish.
