How To Extend The Service Life of Mild Steel Pipes?

Mild steel pipe is a kind of carbon steel pipe and is a widely used pipe material, but their service life is affected by many factors. Among them, the quality of the raw materials of the pipes, the production process, the installation quality, the use environment, etc. will have a certain impact on the service life of mild steel pipes.

Service life of mild steel pipes

The expected service life of mild steel pipes is about 10-50 years if they are properly maintained and maintained. Ordinary mild steel pipes have a service life of about 10 to 20 years in non-corrosive environments (such as water supply and ventilation systems inside buildings). Through surface treatment or composite material technology, the service life can be increased several times, such as: a composite pipe structure that combines metal rigidity with plastic corrosion resistance can achieve a maintenance-free life of more than 50 years.

Although there is no exact timetable for the service life of these pipes, proper maintenance and installation can significantly extend their service life.

Factors affecting the service life of mild steel pipes

1. Quality of raw materials for pipes

Mild steel pipes made of high-quality low-carbon steel have a longer service life, while mild steel pipes made of poor-quality steel are easily corroded and damaged. In general, the main types of mild steel pipes corrosion are electrochemical corrosion, chemical corrosion, and high-temperature corrosion.

2. Quality of production process

A good production process can ensure the quality of the pipe, reduce the corrosion resistance of the pipe, and increase the service life of the pipe.

3. Installation quality

The installation quality of the pipe is the key to determining the service life of the pipe. There should be no problems such as loose installation, pipe bending, and arbitrary construction.

4. Use environment

The use environment of the pipe plays a vital role in the service life. In some special chemical environments, the pipe is prone to corrosion, so you need to pay attention when using it.

Methods to extend the service life of mild steel pipes

1. Strong anti-corrosion (most critical)

Surface protection: hot-dip galvanizing is preferred (the most economical and long-lasting), or high-performance anti-corrosion coatings such as epoxy resin are selected according to the environment. Ensure the quality of construction, especially the welds should be repainted.

Special environment:

Buried/underwater: anti-corrosion coating + cathodic protection (sacrificial anode or impressed current) must be applied.

Transporting corrosive media: consider lining with plastic, rubber or cement mortar.

2. Choose the right pipe specifications

Using pipes of different wall thicknesses in different scenarios can greatly reduce the oxidation corrosion of pipelines and extend their service life.

3. Design and installation optimization

Avoid water accumulation: design slopes and set up drainage at low points.

Reduce gaps: welding is preferred, and pay attention to sealing when connecting the pipe flange.

Anti-galvanic corrosion: different metal contacts are isolated with insulating gaskets.

Protective coating: prevent bumps and scratches on the coating during transportation and installation.

4. Control the use environment

Try to keep the environment dry and reduce contact with salt and pollutants.

Control the temperature, pressure, and pH value of the transported medium, and add corrosion inhibitors when necessary.

5. Regular inspection and maintenance

Regular inspection: clean and inspect the pipeline regularly, and promptly discover and deal with problems in the pipeline, which can effectively extend the service life of the pipeline. Focus on checking the damaged, rusted and worn parts of the coating (especially welds and support points).

Timely repair: if damage is found, immediately remove the rust and repaint. Insufficient wall thickness or cracks should be repaired/replaced in time.

Conclusion

In the process of using mild steel pipes, we need to start from multiple aspects and comprehensively consider factors such as materials, production process quality, installation quality, use environment and correct maintenance methods to achieve the purpose of extending the service life of the pipeline.