Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloy Tubing Selections
American Tube technology produces small diameter tubing in a variety of alloys that can be used in numerous demanding applications. Many of our customers rely on 300 series stainless steel. We typically work with the following
austenitic grades (but frequently produce tubing with other grades on request):
304: Known for its excellent corrosion and oxidization resistance even at high temperatures, this widely used alloy has excellent cold working properties and strength which makes it an ideal choice for fabricated parts. Often referred to as "18-8" stainless steel.
316: This alloy possesses many similar attributes of 304 stainless steel, but its' corrosion resistance is much higher due the addition of molybdenum. Designed for use in corrosive environments, our 316 tubing has been used in applications ranging from chemical/industrial to medical devices.
321: Another variant of the 304 standard, 321's composition includes titanium which makes the resulting tubing stronger and more corrosion resistant at higher temperatures, with less intergranular corrosion than other grades.
347: Similar to type 321, the addition of
tantalum and columbium reduce intergranular corrosion at high temperatures. Frequently, this alloy is used in applications requiring continuous or repeated exposure to high temperatures.
17-7 series: This type of stainless steel includes aluminum in the composition and has good corrosion resistance with excellent strength and hardness characteristics. Often, it is used in demanding aerospace applications.
Alloy 52 and Alloy 600: These high nickel alloys are used in chemical, nuclear, aerospace and other applications requiring high strength with good corrosion resistance at high temperatures. With a coefficient of expansion similar to soft glass, Alloy 52 is often used in glass-to-metal seal applications.
| Right: Some of American Tube Technology's thousands of pounds of raw metal stock for welded and drawn tubing production. |  |
Low carbon versions of our alloys are also available. "L-grade" 300 series stainless steel tubing exhibits improved corrosion resistance along the weld zone and reduced carbon precipitation in welding applications like brazing. Combined with our T.I.G. welded and drawn production process, corrosion resistance in our 300 "L" series tubing is generally uniform throughout the tube with reduced susceptibility to intergranular corrosion.
American Tube Technology also produces tubing in a range of other alloys and grades upon request. The flexibility of our equipment and the knowledge of our staff puts us in a prime position to help with special requests. Tempers ranging from annealed to full hard are available. Visit www.astm.com or www.asme.org for more information on widely accepted industry specifications and standards. We'd be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding chemical composition and the alloy options at our factory---just call us!