Seamless carbon steel pipe to ASTM A106 Grades A, B and C for high temperature service. The standard material for boiler, refinery and process piping.
- Standard: ASTM A106, ASME B36.10, ASME B36.19
- Grades: Grade A, Grade B, Grade C
Specifications
| Outer diameter | 1/8" - 48" (10.3 - 1219 mm) |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | SCH 10 - SCH XXS |
| Schedule | SCH 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, XXS |
| Length | SRL 5.8 m, DRL 11.8 m, 20 FT, 40 FT, or custom |
| Ends | Plain, beveled, threaded |
| Surface treatment | Black painting, varnish, galvanized, 3PE, FBE |
| Manufacturing process | Hot rolled seamless, cold drawn seamless |
| Pressure rating | High temperature and high pressure service |
The Standard for High Temperature Service
ASTM A106 covers seamless carbon steel pipe intended for high temperature service, typically for conveying water, oil, gas and slurry at elevated temperature and pressure. The specification requires seamless construction, and pipe is supplied either hot finished or cold drawn. Grade B is by far the most widely used and is found throughout refinery, boiler and power plant piping. The material is readily weldable, is available in a very wide range of sizes and schedules, and has a large body of established welding procedures behind it, which is why engineers reach for it by default when a carbon steel pipe is needed at temperature.
Grade A, B and C Compared
ASTM A106 defines three grades that differ mainly in tensile strength. Grade A has a minimum tensile strength of 330 MPa (48,000 psi) and a minimum yield of 205 MPa (30,000 psi). Grade B has a minimum tensile of 415 MPa (60,000 psi) and a minimum yield of 240 MPa (35,000 psi). Grade C has a minimum tensile of 485 MPa (70,000 psi) and a minimum yield of 275 MPa (40,000 psi). Grade B accounts for the overwhelming majority of demand. Grade C is specified when higher strength is needed but a low alloy steel would be uneconomic or would introduce welding complications. The carbon content also increases from A to C, which progressively reduces weldability, so higher grades require more careful welding procedures.
Can ASTM A106 pipe be used at low temperature?
No, ASTM A106 is not intended for low temperature service. The standard assumes ambient to elevated temperature conditions. Below about minus 29 degrees C, the carbon steel loses notch toughness and becomes susceptible to brittle fracture. For low temperature service you should specify ASTM A333 pipe, which uses killed steel with controlled chemistry and is impact tested at the service temperature. Grades 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11 cover ranges from minus 45 degrees C down to minus 101 degrees C.
Is ASTM A106 Grade B the same as API 5L Grade B?
They have identical minimum yield strength (240 MPa / 35,000 psi) and minimum tensile strength (415 MPa / 60,000 psi) for seamless pipe, so in mechanical terms they are interchangeable. The standards differ in scope and testing. A106 permits only seamless construction and is written for high temperature service; API 5L permits both seamless and welded and includes pipeline-specific requirements such as PSL2 chemistry limits and impact testing. Where a project allows it, pipe is often dual certified to A106 B, A53 B and API 5L B, which is commonly marketed as three standards pipe.
What is the maximum wall thickness available in A106 pipe?
Standard schedules run from SCH 10 up to SCH XXS, and heavy wall pipe beyond XXS can be produced to order. In practice the upper limit depends on the mill and the diameter. For a 6 inch pipe, XXS corresponds to 21.95 mm wall. Larger diameters with heavy walls are more commonly supplied as LSAW or forged rather than seamless.
Materials
- Carbon steel
Typical applications
- Boiler and superheater piping
- Refinery process piping
- Heat exchanger connections
- Power plant steam lines
- High temperature industrial piping
Inspection & testing
- Ultrasonic testing
- Hydrostatic pressure test
- Tensile and yield testing
- Flattening, bend and hardness test
- Chemical composition analysis
- Third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TUV)
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