ASTM A53 Grade B Galvanized Pipe

Description

Grade B of ASTM A 53 is more popular than other grades. These pipes can be bare pipes without any coating, or they may be Hot-Dipped or Zinc-Coated and manufactured by Welding or by a Seamless manufacturing process. In Oil and Gas, A53 grade pipes are used in structural and non-critical applications.

ASTM A53 pipe (also referred to as ASME SA53 pipe) is intended for mechanical and pressure applications and is also acceptable for ordinary uses in steam, water, gas, and air lines. It is suitable for welding, and suitable for forming operations involving coiling, bending, and flanging, subject to certain qualifications.

The weld seam is heat treated after welding without untempered martensite remains. Also, the weld flash can be removed from both inner and outer surfaces.

Materials and Manufacture

The steel for both seamless and welded pipe shall be made by one or more of the following processes: open-hearth, electric furnace, or basic-oxygen. The weld seam of electric-resistance welded pipe in Grade B shall be heat treated after welding.
Applications: heat exchangers, condensers, heat transfer equipment and similar pipes.

Note:

• DN — Nominal Diameter
• NPS —Nominal Pipe Size

Chemical requirements of ASTM A53

Element	Type S		Type E		Type F
	(seamless)		(electric-resistance welded)		(furnace-welded pipe)
	Grade A	Grade B	Grade A	Grade B	Grade A
Carbon max. %	0.25	0.3	0.25	0.3	0.3
Manganese %	0.95	1.2	0.95	1.2	1.2
Phosphorous, max. %	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
Sulfur, max. %	0.045	0.045	0.045	0.045	0.045
Copper, max.%	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4
Nickel, max. %	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4
Chromium, max. %	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4
Molybdenum, max. %	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.15
Vanadium, max. %	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08

A53 pipe comes in three types (F, E, S) and two grades (A, B).
A53 Type E has an electric resistance weld (Grades A and B)
A53 Type S is a seamless pipe and found in Grades A and B)
A53 Type F is manufactured with a furnace butt weld or may have a continuous weld (Grade A only)

Mechanical properties of ASTM A53

ASTM A53 is suitable for a variety of forming processes, including coiling, bending, and flanging; continuous weld pipe (Type F) is not suitable for flanging. Please note the use/application of the pipe you require on your RFQ and/or when ordering.

Grade	Rm Mpa Tensile Strength	Mpa Yield Point	Elongation	Delivery Condition
A	≥330	≥205	20	Annealed
B	≥415	≥240	20	Annealed

Galvanized A53 Pipe

If ordered galvanized, A53 seamless pipe must be coated inside and out via the hot-dip process. Zinc used for galvanized coatings must conform to Specification B6. The weight of this coating must not be less than 1.8 oz./ft2 (0.55 kg/m2). Test specimens for coating weight testing will be cut in approximately 4” lengths.

What is A53 grade B equivalent to?

ASTM A53 B mechanical strength is the same with ASTM A106 B steel pipe, Tensile strength maximum 415 Mpa, Yield strength maximum 240 Mpa.

What is the difference between ASTM A53 Grade B and ASTM A106 Grade B?

A53 pipe is best suited for transport of air, water, steam and oil in low- and medium pressure applications across the industrial spectrum. It’s also commonly used as structural steel. A106 pipe is formulated specifically for high-temperature and high-pressure service, usually in power generation applications.

What is the difference between ASTM A53 and S355JR?

ASTM A53 addresses “Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless.” A53 basically covers two different grades of low carbon steel that are hot-dip galvanized in pipe form. The galvanized pipes can be produced in seamless or welded forms.

S355JR is a low carbon steel used for structural applications. It is available in many forms: coils, sheets, pipes, tubes, and heavy structures. It is commonly used in railroads, cranes, dump trucks, offshore structures, and ships. An equivalent ASTM steel specification is ASTM A572 Grade 50.

Short version: ASTM A53 is specific to galvanized pipes made of a low carbon steel. S355JR is a versatile low carbon steel used in many applications.

Differences between ASTM A53 and ASTM A106 Steel Pipe

ASTM A53 specification covers the steel pipe manufacturing types in seamless and welded, material in carbon steel, black steel. Surface natural, black, and hot-dipped galvanized, zinc coated steel pipe. Diameters range from NPS 1?8 to NPS 26 (10.3mm to 660mm), nominal wall thickness.

ASTM A106 standard specification covers the seamless carbon steel pipe, applied for high-temperature services.

Different types and grades for both standard

ASTM A53 steel pipe types and grades

For ASTM A53 there are ERW and seamless steel pipes Type F, E, S covers Grade A and B.

A53 Type F, furnace butt welded, continuous weld Grade A
A53 Type E, Electric resistance welded (ERW), in Grade A and Grade B.
A53 Type S, Seamless steel pipe, in Grade A and Grade B.

If raw steel material of different grades in process of continuously casting, the transition material result shall be identified. And the manufacturer should remove the transition material with the processes that could separate the grades positively.

In case ASTM A53 Grade B in ERW (electric resistance welded) pipe, the weld seam shall be done the heat treatment with a minimum 1000°F [540°C]. In this way the no untempered martensite remains.

In case ASTM A53 B pipe in cold expanded, then expansion should not exceed 1.5% of the required OD.

(Please note the type F is not used for flanging, and if type S or type E is applied for coiling or cold bending, it is recommended to use ASTM A106 Grade A pipe. Although, it is not prohibit to use ASTM A106 Grade B for the cold bending and coiling. According the facility from the manufacturer, type E of ASTM A53 pipe could be supplied non cold expanded or cold expand steel pipe.)

For ASTM A106 steel pipe, manufacturing Type only in seamless, processes hot rolled and the cold drawn. Grade in A, B and C.

ASTM A106 Grade A: Maximum Carbon element 0.25%, Mn 0.27-0.93%. Minimum tensile strength 48000 Psi or 330 Mpa, yield strength 30000 Psi or 205 Mpa.
A106 Grade B: Maximum C below 0.30%, Mn 0.29-1.06%. Minimum tensile strength 60000 Psi or 415 Mpa, yield strength 35000 Psi or 240 Mpa.
Grade C: Maximum C 0.35%, Mn 0.29-1.06%. Minimum tensile strength 70000 Psi or 485 Mpa, yield strength 40000 Psi or 275 Mpa.

As ASTM A106 B is the common use, the chemical here we listed is C≤0.3%, Mn 0.29-1.06%, P≤0.035, S≤0.035%, Si>0.1, Cr≤0.40, Cu≤0.40, Ni≤0.40, Mo≤0.40, V≤0.08.

Differently with ASTM A53 B, ASTM A106 B has Si min 0.1%, which A53 B has 0, so A106 B have better heat resistance than A53 B, since Si improve the heat resistance.

A106 Grade B has low sulfur and phosphorus than A53 B, this is better.

Both pipes applied for mechanical and pressure systems, transporting steam, water, gas, and etc.

ASTM A53 pipe application:
1. Construction, underground transportation, extraction of ground water while building, steam water transportation etc.
2. Bearing sets, machinery parts processing.
3. Electric application: Gas transmission, water power generation fluid pipeline.
4. Wind power plant anti-static tube etc.
5. Pipelines that required zinc coated.

ASTM A106 pipe application:
Especially for high temperature services that up to 750°F, and it could substitute ASTM A53 pipe in most of the cases. In some country at least in United States, usually ASTM A53 is for welded pipe while ASTM A106 is for seamless pipe. And if client asked for ASTM A53 they will also offer A106. In China, manufacturer will offer the pipe that comply to three standards ASTM A53 B / ASTM A106 B / API 5L B.