The 4 most widely used alloy steel pipe grades

In the alloy steel tube industry, four key grades stand out due to their widespread use: 12Cr1MoV, A335 P91, A335 P22, and 15CrMoG. These grades are known for their excellent mechanical properties, durability, and adaptability to high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Here is a breakdown of these widely used grades.

12Cr1MoV Alloy Steel Pipe
12Cr1MoV is a high-quality carbon structural steel with the addition of alloying elements to enhance its mechanical properties, toughness, and hardenability. Pipes made from this steel undergo heat treatment (such as normalizing, quenching, or tempering) to improve their performance. Depending on its chemical composition and heat treatment process, it can be further categorized for carburizing, quenching, or nitriding applications. These treatments allow the steel to develop a hardened surface, making it suitable for components exposed to extreme conditions.

A335 P91 Alloy Steel Pipe
A335 P91 is a high-performance alloy steel tube that undergoes rolling after perforation. Known for its robustness and versatility, the P91 alloy tube is commonly used in power plants, petrochemical industries, and other applications requiring high-strength material. It is produced using ordinary carbon structural steel, low-alloy structural steel, or alloy structural steel and is primarily used for conveying fluids and structural parts. Its ability to handle high temperatures and pressures makes it a popular choice in critical applications.

A335 P22 Alloy Steel Pipe
The A335 P22 is a seamless steel pipe known for its strength and resistance to high temperatures and pressure. While it shares similar material properties with UNS 21950, the processing methods differ. The manufacturing process involves heating, perforation, annealing, and multi-pass cold drawing, followed by heat treatment, straightening, and final inspections like water pressure testing. A335 P22 is widely used in industries that require high-performance materials, including chemical and power generation sectors.

15CrMoG Alloy Steel Pipe
15CrMoG alloy pipes are available in a wide range of specifications (from 8mm to 1240mm in diameter and 1mm to 200mm in wall thickness). These pipes are primarily used in low and medium-pressure boilers, where working pressures do not exceed 5.88 MPa and temperatures are below 450°C. They are also suitable for high-pressure boilers with working temperatures between 450°C and 650°C, often used in economizers, superheaters, reheaters, and various applications in the petrochemical industry. The pipe's ability to handle high-pressure and high-temperature environments makes it ideal for such demanding applications.

In addition to these four key grades, the alloy steel pipe industry offers many other types, including 20MnG, 35CrMo, 12Cr2MoWVTiB, and SA213 T91, each with unique properties for specific industrial applications. However, 12Cr1MoV, A335 P91, A335 P22, and 15CrMoG remain the most commonly used due to their balance of performance and adaptability.