Welded Pipe vs Seamless Pipe

As industrial applications have evolved and become more complicated, so have the pipe products and systems that serve them.

While there are other pipe manufacturing technologies, the most popular debate in the industry pits electric resistance welded (ERW) steel pipe against seamless (SMLS) steel pipe.

For decades, both ERW and seamless steel pipe production methods have been used; nevertheless, the methods used to make both have advanced through time. So, which is superior?

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Manufacturing welded pipe:

The welded pipe begins as a long, coiled ribbon of steel known as a skelp. The skelp is cut to length, resulting in a flat rectangular sheet. The width of the sheet's shorter ends will become the pipe's outer circumference, which can be used to compute the pipe's eventual outside diameter.

The rectangular sheets are run through a rolling machine, which twists the longer sides up toward each other to form a cylinder. A high-frequency electrical current is passed between the edges during the ERW process, making them melt and fuse together.

The use of fusion metals is not required with ERW pipe, and the weld seam cannot be seen or felt. In contrast, double submerged arc welding (DSAW) produces an apparent weld bead that must be removed depending on the application.

The majority of welded pipe types necessitate heat treatment following fabrication.

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Manufacturing seamless pipe:

Seamless piping starts with a billet, which is a solid cylindrical hunk of steel. Billets are punctured through the core using a mandrel while still hot. The hollow billet is then rolled and stretched. The billet is precisely rolled and stretched until it fulfills the length, diameter, and wall thickness requirements specified in the customer order.

Some seamless pipe types harden as they are built, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing heat treatment. Others do necessitate heat treatment. Check the specs of the seamless pipe type you're thinking about buying to see if it has to be heat treated.

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Because it had a weld seam, the welded pipe was thought to be intrinsically weaker. The seamless pipe was considered safer since it lacked this perceived structural weakness. While it is true that welded pipe has a seam that theoretically makes it weaker, manufacturing techniques and quality assurance regimens have both improved to the point that welded pipe will function as required when tolerances are not exceeded. While the obvious benefit is obvious, criticism of seamless piping is that the rolling and stretching operation results in variable wall thickness when compared to the more accurate thickness of steel sheets meant for welding.

These perceptions are still reflected in the industry standards that control the fabrication and specification of ERW and seamless steel pipe. Many high-pressure, high-temperature applications, such as those in the oil and gas, power production, and pharmaceutical industries, require seamless pipes. Welded piping (which is often less expensive and more commonly available) is used in all industries as long as the temperature, pressure, and other service variables do not exceed the parameters stated in the applicable standard.

There is no difference in performance between ERW and seamless steel pipe in structural applications. While the two can be specified interchangeably, it makes no sense to request seamless when a cheaper welded pipe will suffice.