What is a Forged Flange?

Flanges have been an integral part of the piping system. There are varieties of flanges that are in use in different industries. Every industry demands a unique set of flanges according to their requirements.

What is a flange?

A flange is a metal disc used to join pipes. A gasket is fixed between the two flanges to tighten up the seal. A flange is used to connect two pipes or valves or tubes to form a piping network. Flanges provide support and strength and prevent leakage.

Flanges are commonly welded or screwed into pipes or valves and are then joined with bolts. Flanges provide easy access to clean or inspect a piping system.

What is a Forged flange?

Like other flanges, forged flanges too, act as a connecting device between two pipes or tubes.

A Forged flange is a metal disc, installed at the back of a tube, valve or any other object. It permits easy installation and removal of a piping system.

Why is it called a ‘Forged’ flange?

Forged flanges undergo the process of ‘forging’. Forging happens when two energies – Thermal and Mechanical, are applied to a steel flange, thereby changing its shape when in a solid state.

Which flanges come under Forged flanges?

The below-mentioned flanges undergo forged:

1. Weld Neck – These flanges are welded to the base of the pipe and used robust applications. The bore of the flange matches the bore of the pipe, thus allowing continuous product flow and reduces turbulence and erosion at the joints too.
2. Slip On – They have bores with a diameter slightly larger than the pipe; helping them to slide\slip over. They are welded inside and outside too, with fillet welding.
3. Socket – These flanges are counter-bored i.e. the bore of the flange and pipe, both are same, thereby providing a good flow of the product through the tube.
4. Lap Joint – Manufactured with a stub end, these flanges swing over the pipe. As they do not come in contact with the inner fluid, they do not corrode.
5. Threaded – The bore of these flanges has threads that fit to pipes that have external threads, thereby diminishing the need for welding.
6. Blind – These are mostly used to seal the end or opening of a pipe, which is why they come without a bore.

What are the merits of Forged flanges? Where is it used?

• Forged flanges can handle impact better than Cast flanges, thus making them a superior choice.
• Forged flanges eliminate any absorbency, cavities and shrinkage, thus making them all the more durable.
• They are stronger and reliable than cast flanges.
• Although they require high production cost, forged flanges have higher resistance to corrosion.
• Industries dealing with chemicals, Oil and refineries, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, gas processing and distribution use them.

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As a budding writer, I'm trying to simplify jargons of the Steel industry by breaking them into small, lucid articles, in a Q&A format. I hope my content helps readers.