Which One Is More Expensive, Seamless Pipe Or Seam Pipe?

The price of seamless pipe is usually higher than that of seam pipe because its production process is more complicated and its performance is better.

Due to the difference between seamless pipe and seam pipe, the price difference between the two is large. So which one is more expensive? How much more expensive? The answer is: the price of seamless pipe is usually about 50% to 100% more expensive than that of seam pipe. The following will give you a detailed introduction.

Price difference between seamless steel pipe and seam pipe

‌1. Manufacturing process and cost‌

Seamless steel pipe is made by rolling a whole piece of steel at one time, without welding seams, with high surface smoothness, suitable for harsh environments such as high pressure, high temperature, and corrosion. This manufacturing process is more complicated and the material requirements are higher, so the cost is higher.

In contrast, the seam pipe is made of steel plates or steel strips through multiple processing and welding. The manufacturing process is relatively simple, but the presence of welding seams will affect its surface quality and mechanical properties. ‌

‌2. Application fields‌

Due to its excellent performance, seamless steel pipes are widely used in petroleum, chemical, electric power, machinery and other places that need to withstand high pressure and high temperature, and the price is relatively high.

However, seam pipes are more used in the construction industry, such as the transportation of low-pressure fluids such as water, gas, compressed air, and support and connection components in building structures, and the price is relatively cheap.

‌3. Market price range‌

Take common carbon steel as an example, the price of seamless steel pipes is about 698-1395 US dollars/ton, while the price of seam steel pipes is about 419-838 US dollars/ton. The specific price needs to be calculated according to different specifications, materials, brands and other factors. ‌

Reasons for price differences

1. ‌Different production processes

‌The production process of seamless pipes is more complicated, requiring higher technology and equipment investment, so the cost is higher.

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2. Differences in materials and specifications ‌

Seamless pipes of different materials and specifications have different prices, and high-quality seamless pipes are more expensive.

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3. Market demand and supply relationship

Market demand and supply relationship will also affect prices. The price of some specific specifications of seamless pipes may rise due to tight supply.

Comparison of the advantages of seamless pipes and seam pipes

1. Advantages of seamless pipes

Since there is no welding seam, seamless pipes are usually better than seam pipes in terms of pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. Suitable for extreme environments such as high pressure and high temperature, it can not only be used as a pipeline for conveying fluids, but also as a structural part, such as boiler tubes, high-pressure tubings, etc.

2. Advantages of seam pipes

The wall of the seam pipe can be made thinner, so the overall weight is relatively light, which is convenient for transportation and installation. The manufacturing process is relatively simple and the cost is low, so its unit price is usually cheaper than that of seamless pipes. It is mainly used to convey low-pressure fluids, such as water supply pipes and sewage pipes.

Performance comparison of seamless pipes and seam pipes

1. Tensile strength

The tensile strength of seamless pipes is higher than that of seam pipes. This is because the seamless pipe undergoes multiple perforations and rolling during the production process, and the internal structure after processing is denser, so the tensile strength is higher.

2. Finished product appearance

The surface of seamless pipe is smooth, without obvious edges and welds, and the appearance is more beautiful.

The surface of seam pipe has obvious weld marks and the appearance is slightly rough.

3. Reliability

Since the manufacturing process of seamless pipe is complicated and the processing is difficult, the quality reliability of its products is higher.

In the products of seam pipe, cracks, pores and other defects may appear at the welding point, which will affect its service life.

Matters needing attention when purchasing

1. Choose seamless pipe or seam pipe according to the actual use scenario and requirements.

2. Compare prices and choose a regular and reputable manufacturer or sales channel.

3. For seamless pipes, you need to choose products with smooth surface, no rust, no folding, burrs and other obvious defects.

4. For seam pipes, you need to check whether there are obvious flaws and defects in the welding parts.

5. Choose the appropriate material, size and thickness according to actual needs.

Conclusion

In summary, there are differences between seamless pipes and seam pipes in production process, performance and use. Although the production process of seamless pipes is complicated and the cost is high, some of its properties are better than those of seam pipes. Therefore, in some special cases, seamless pipes are better. However, in general, seamless pipes and seam pipes have their own use occasions and need to be selected according to specific circumstances.