ASTM A500 Technical Specifications
The American Society for Testing and Materials prescribes the A500 standard for carbon steel pipes and tubing. It consists of exhaustive material, physical, and metrological requirements. Steel tubes that meet these specifications are approved as A500 standard pipes. A500 pipes are characteristically cold-formed and seamlessly welded. They are manufactured in a variety of shapes. ASTM A500 is a versatile mild-steel standard suitable for transportation, support, and construction.
Range and Shape
One of the primary reasons we recommend A500 steel pipes is their variety of shapes. Their availability in different forms means you are bound to find the best product for your application. For example, cube and cuboidal-shaped pipes are commonly used in construction and support structures.
A500 steel pipes with circular cross sections can transport any medium like water, oil, gas, or hydrocarbons. They come in a great range of dimensions as well. Indoor plumbing often utilizes A500 pipes with an outer diameter of 0.25 inches. However, it can go up to 24 inches in applications requiring greater capacity. Greater wall thickness increases the pressure-handling property of the pipe. Depending on your strength and pressure concerns, you can obtain pipe thicknesses between 3 and 12mm.
Grade and Mechanical Properties
ASTM has divided steel pipes’ various compositional and physical attributes into several grades to encapsulate their composition. A500 pipes come in four grades, namely, grade A, grade B, grade C, and grade D. You can expect each grade to perform differently. The common characteristics of steel differ with each grade. Differences are seen in yield and tensile strength. Elongation, cost, and availability are further concerns.
For example, grade B will suit you well if you need a versatile steel pipe with a low strength and pressure rating. It can provide a yield strength of at least 46,000 psi. Its tensile strength sits at 58,000 psi. It can be elongated by a minimum of 23% in two inches. For heavy-duty applications, grade C is more suitable. The yield strength of this pipe reaches up to 50,00 psi. It can achieve even greater tensile strength at 62,000 psi. Consequently, it has a lesser elongation at 21% for two inches.
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As you might have judged, A500 pipes are primarily mild steel pipes. Hence, their main components are iron and carbon. ASTM outlines several other metals enhancing the properties of mild steel. Its components and manufacturing technique characterizes each grade. We can categorize grades A, B, and D together. They have 0.30% carbon content by mass. In addition, they possess phosphorus and sulfur, 0.045% by mass. Sometimes, they might be labeled as copper steel. In such cases, you can also expect 0.18% copper by mass.
On the other hand, grade C has a maximum carbon content of 0.27% by mass and 1.40% manganese. Manganese is absent from grades A, B, and D. The percentage of phosphorus, sulfur, and copper is similar to the other grades.
Dimensional Tolerance
One of the superior features of A500 pipes is their dimensional tolerance. It enables several fabricators to implement them with trust and safety. If the manufacturer has established an outside diameter of not more than 1.9in, the tolerance will be 0.5%. The calculated magnitude should not differ by more than 0.005in or 0.13mm.
The rules are different when the manufacturer establishes an outside diameter of more than 2in. For this instance, the tolerance is set at 0.75%. The measured value should fall under 0.005in or 0.13mm. It must be noted that the measurement of the OD is taken more than 2 inches from the pipe opening.
A500 pipes excel in their superior wall thickness tolerance. They have a minimum and maximum of 10% tolerance for wall thickness. Neither of the two values must surpass 10% of the drawing specifications.
Right-angle tolerance determines the straightness of A500 pipes. For structural steel pipes, the allowed variance is 10.4mm multiplied by 0.2 times the total tube length in meters. Similarly, the external corners of square and rectangular pipes are not meant to go beyond 3 times the wall thickness of the pipes.
Testing Requirements
ASTM prescribes standardized tests to ensure that manufactured pipes meet all necessary criteria. These testing methods ensure that structural and transportation steel is fit for industry use. Chemical structure tests ensure that the steel used in the A500 pipes meets the specification sheets. Mechanical tests ensure that structural steel fulfills the yield and tensile strength criteria. Flattening and twist tolerance checks ensure that the steel pipe maintains straightness in rectangular or square pipes.
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Two modes of production are employed to make ASTM A500 pipes. One of the most widely applied techniques is the electric resistance welding arc. It starts with a steel coil as the raw material. The steel coil is leveled, butt-welded, rolled, and longitudinally welded to produce steel tubes. ERW pipe manufacturing is fast and cost-efficient due to conveyor belt optimization. The other process of manufacturing A500 pipes is the seamless technique. The principal raw ingredient in this method is steel billets. The billet is longitudinally bored using a mill or piercing press. It is rolled and extruded to give the correct shape, thickness, and diameter. Seamless steel pipes are expensive but offer much higher tensile and yield strength.
Application of ASTM A500 Pipe
ASTM A500 steel pipes have numerous industry applications. They are structural components in building columns, scaffolding, and frames. The Oil and Gas Industry employs A500 steel pipes for their excellent toughness and longevity. Mechanical systems, such as hydraulic and pneumatic machines, use A500 steel pipes for energy transmission. A500 pipes serve a similar purpose in the automotive and energy industries. The ASTM A500 standard is highly versatile and desirable in industries.