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Sunday, November 12, 2017

Top Considerations for Round and Square Metal Tubing Selection


Metal tubes are among the most widely used yet least regarded objects on the planet. You can find them in your home, at the workplace, in the subway, or even in your car. They convey hot water from your heater and cool air from your air conditioner into your home. When you are going up or down the stairs, they keep you from falling off the side. They have a plethora of uses and yet you probably know very little about them, particularly how they are manufactured.

What Metal Tubes Are Usually Made Of

There are many metals that can be used to produce tubes, each of which is chosen for specific industrial applications. The most common of them are the stainless and non-ferrous metals, such as copper, brass, bronze, and aluminum. These metals not only exhibit properties common to non-ferrous metals, such as corrosion resistance and toughness, but they have other highly beneficial characteristics, including superior strength and high thermal and electrical conductivity, which makes them a perfect round or square metal tubing material.

How Their Dimensions Are Decided

Metal tubes come is a range of sizes to suit different applications. Their dimensions include inside diameter, outside diameter, and wall thickness. Manufacturers base their choice of material, design, and production technique on the tube’s purpose and the kinds of fluid that it will be used to transport. Tubes that are meant to convey corrosive fluids are usually made of corrosion-resistant metal and with a thick wall. 

Methods of Construction

There are three ways metal tubes are constructed—extrusion, welding, and welding and drawing (W&D). Metal tubes constructed via extrusion often exhibit seamless features, while welded ones have a visible patch on one side as they were originally sheets rolled to form conduits. W&D, on the other hand, are welded and precisely sized by drawing through a die.

Commercially Available Shapes

Most tubes that are made for conveying fluids have circular diameter. This is because such purpose requires even strength distribution in all directions. As the demand for tubing in other industries grew, manufacturers began introducing tubes of other shapes into the market. You can now find oval, rectangular, and square tubing offered by top suppliers like Rotax Metals.

Testing Their Performance

Of course, it is crucial to ensure that metal tubes meet the demands of the industries they will be used for. As such, different tests are conducted to measure each product’s quality and performance. When offered to buyers, commercial metal tubes usually come with certain performance specifications, including pressure rating, maximum vacuum, minimum bend radius, and temperature range so that buyers can find the most suitable tubes for their projects.

Choosing the Best Finish

To improve the durability and corrosion resistance of a metal tube, it is normally polished or covered with a finishing layer. Depending on the tube’s purpose, the manufacturer can galvanize, paint, or plate it either inside or outside. Meanwhile, if the buyer wants a bright finish, the manufacturer can simply polish or pickle the tube’s surface.

With these considerations, it is easier to choose the best metal tubing for your projects. All you have to worry about is the likelihood of choosing poor-quality products. This is where reputable companies like Rotax Metals come in. Having been in the business for over seven decades, they can surely measure up to your expectations.

About Rotax Metals

Rotax Metals is your one-stop shop for high-quality metals. Whether you need copper, brass, or bronze fittings and pipes for your plumbing or customized tubing for your interior design, we’ve got you covered. We serve countless professionals and material suppliers across North America, and for over seven decades we’ve never failed them.


Sources:

4 Types of Copper Piping, TheBalance.com
Metal Tubes Information, GlobalSpec.com
Why Your Builder Chose Solid Brass Plumbing Fixtures, Copper.org

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