MS Pipe VS CS Pipe: Mechanical Properties

What is mild steel tube?

Mild steel tube is made of carbon steel with a carbon content of less than 0.25%. Mild steel is a type of carbon steel with a very low carbon content. About 0.16–0.29% by weight. This steel is cheap and most commonly used. It is ductile and forgeable, but has low tensile strength. Low carbon cannot be hardened by heat treatment.

What is carbon steel pipe?

Carbon steel pipe is a steel pipe composed of carbon and iron, usually containing 0.03%~0.75% carbon. Carbon steel pipe has many characteristics, including low cost, excellent bending and compression resistance, good mechanical strength, high hardness and corrosion resistance. In addition, carbon steel pipe is also very easy to process and weld, so it is widely used in various industries.

Mechanical Properties

1.Carbon content

The carbon content of low carbon steel pipe is usually between 0.16% and 0.29%, while carbon steel pipe (which may refer to medium carbon or high carbon steel) may have a higher carbon content, usually about 0.3% to 0.6% for medium carbon steel and 0.6% to 2.1% for high carbon steel.

2.Strength and Hardness

Due to the different carbon content, the strength and hardness of low carbon steel pipe are relatively low, while carbon steel pipe (especially medium carbon and high carbon steel) has higher strength and hardness. High carbon steel has excellent strength and hardness due to its high carbon content, but may be more brittle and difficult to weld.

3.Plasticity and Toughness

Low carbon steel pipe has good plasticity and toughness, suitable for cold working and welding. In contrast, carbon steel pipe may have lower plasticity and toughness, especially high carbon steel, which may be more brittle due to its high carbon content.

4.Weldability

Low carbon steel pipe has excellent weldability due to its low carbon content. Carbon steel pipes, especially high carbon steel, may produce hot cracks during welding due to their high carbon content, and their weldability is poor.

5.Heat treatment

Low carbon steel pipes usually do not need to be heat treated, while carbon steel pipes, especially medium carbon and high carbon steels, can be improved by heat treatment such as quenching and tempering to improve their mechanical properties.

6.Application areas

Low carbon steel pipes are widely used in fields such as construction, machinery manufacturing and the automotive industry to manufacture parts that do not require high strength or withstand minimal stress. Carbon steel pipes are often used to manufacture parts that withstand high pressure and high temperature environments, such as oil and gas pipelines, refining equipment, etc., due to their high strength and hardness.

In summary, the difference in mechanical properties between low carbon steel pipes and carbon steel pipes mainly stems from their different carbon content, which affects their processability, strength, plasticity, toughness and application range.