What’s the Best Material for Industrial Pipes?
You are in your plant, and you suddenly hear a pop and a continuous hiss. The most likely source of the noise is one of the industrial pipes carrying manufacturing materials giving way under pressure or failing due to a lack of maintenance.
Preventing pipes from failing depends on choosing the best material for the job at hand. The best material for any industrial pipes varies by use and is plant-specific. The best material to choose is the one that has the characteristics suitable to your industry and the job at hand.
How do you know if the industrial piping in your plant is made of an appropriate material for your manufacturing process?
Keep reading to learn more.
Your Industry and Industrial Pipes Material
The key reasons to pick the right material are manufacturing efficiency, safety, maintainability, and cost. Do not lose sight of maintenance costs when choosing a pipe material.
First, determine the best material for a given industry. If you are in the car manufacturing business and require an acid bath for body parts before painting, you would need piping that can resist corrosion. If you are making baked goods, you need sanitary piping that doesn’t contaminate foods.
Regardless of the industry involved, you need to consider the type of material the pipes are carrying, the temperature of the material at any point in time, and the operating pressure. The right material is determined by the fluid type, pressure, and temperature.
The best pipe material also varies with plant and process.
The Best Material for Your Plant and Process
If your plant is undertaking a new project or doing maintenance, you need the right material for industrial piping.
There are four categories of industrial pipe materials to choose from, depending on the type of project:
- Steels and metals
- Concrete
- Lined Pipes
- Plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Will your project require above or below ground pipe? A below-ground pipe is often cast iron and carries water, gas, or sewage. Concrete is also used below ground.
Steel and steel alloys are best if your project and process involve high temperatures or pressure. Keep in mind carbon steel is more prone to corrode Galvanized steel, while less prone to corrosion and able to handle high temperatures, is not the best under high pressure.
Lined pipes can be the right choice when a combination of qualities is required. Steel pipe that is lined with plastic might be best when acid is being transported, but the plastic needs to be shielded from outside contact and wear.
If your project involves electrical wiring, PVC pipes might be best.
Project nature and conditions greatly impact piping material choice.
Choose the Right Pipe Material
The materials discussed above aren’t the only choices you have. The best approach to choosing the right pipe material is retaining the services of an engineer.
You also need professionals for doing maintenance and repairs. If you need industrial pipes maintained or repaired contact RAK Industrial Services Inc.
