Materials and performance characteristics of ERW steel pipes

1. ERW Steel Pipe Materials

ERW steel pipes are made from a wide variety of materials, primarily various carbon and low-alloy steels, in the form of hot-rolled coils or plates, a production expertise of a premier ERW steel pipe manufacturer.  Common material grades vary depending on the standards of different countries:

Carbon structural steel:

Chinese standards: Q195, Q215A/B, Q235A/B/C, Q355B/C/D (formerly known as Q345B), etc.

American standards: ASTM A500 Gr. A, Gr. B, Gr. C; ASTM A53 Gr. A, Gr. B, etc.

Japanese standards: SS400, STKR400, etc.

European standards: S235JR, S275JR, S355JR, etc.

Low-alloy high-strength steel:

Used for applications requiring higher strength and weather resistance, such as Q355, Q390, Q420 (China GB standard), as well as ASTM A607 and A715.

Specialized steel:

API series: Used for line pipe in the oil and gas industry, such as API 5L Gr. B, X42, X52, X60, X65, and X70.

Weathering steel: Such as ASTM A847, offers excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

Core Features: The ERW process is highly adaptable to various materials; any material with good electrical conductivity and weldability can be used to produce ERW steel pipe.

2. Performance Advantages of ERW Steel Pipe

High Efficiency and High Output:

The ERW production line operates continuously, achieving extremely high welding speeds of 20-100 meters per minute, far exceeding spiral submerged arc welding (SAW) and straight seam submerged arc welding (LSAW). This results in high production efficiency and relatively low costs.

High-Quality Welds:

High-frequency welding results in a narrow heat-affected zone, resulting in fine-grained welds and dense microstructure. Heat treatment can typically achieve weld strength comparable to, or even slightly higher than, the parent metal.

Burrs inside and outside the weld can be scraped away for a smooth surface, facilitating subsequent corrosion protection.

High Dimensional Accuracy:

Using cold-rolled or finished coils as raw material, the outer diameter and wall thickness of the steel pipes can be precisely controlled with tight tolerances.

Excellent ovality and straightness make them particularly suitable for applications with stringent dimensional requirements, such as mechanical structures and automotive drive shafts.

High Material Utilization:

Theoretically, various lengths of steel pipe can be produced, allowing for flexible cut lengths and virtually no over- or under-cut material waste.

Low Production Cost:

Due to high production efficiency, relatively low energy consumption, and high raw material yield, ERW steel pipes offer strong price competitiveness in the small and medium-sized diameter range (20mm - 660mm).

By Helen

Hello, I’m Helen, the export manager at Hebei Jiaruisike Oil Special Pipe Co., Ltd., overseeing international market development and customer relations for oil pipe products.

With 8 years of experience in the oil pipe trade, I specialize in global markets, technical standards, and production processes. I've successfully expanded into regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, building lasting partnerships with international energy companies. My industry insights and negotiation skills have boosted export performance and optimized customer service systems.

I excel at cross-department collaboration to ensure efficient production, quality checks, timely delivery, and compliance with global standards. Staying attuned to market trends and policy shifts, I adapt sales strategies to meet challenges and competition.

Looking ahead, I aim to further strengthen our global presence and deliver quality products and services to customers worldwide.