Nickel-based alloys can resist oxidation and corrosion in harsh environments. They are also strong, hard, ductile, and malleable. These characteristics make them suitable for a variety of uses. They can be used in oil refineries, chemical processing, power plants, and other high-stress industrial, energy or marine applications. They are also used in everyday products such as doorknobs, eyeglasses and musical instruments. The addition of other elements such as chromium, molybdenum and copper enhances their resistance to corrosion.
These nickel alloys are commonly used in the construction of pipes and tubes. They can be manufactured to various shapes and sizes depending on the specifications required for each project. They are often used in the aerospace industry and have a wide range of applications. The main advantage of nickel-based alloys is their resistance to abrasion and impact. This makes them useful for pipelines in extreme weather conditions. They are also corrosion resistant in a variety of acidic and alkaline solutions. They have an excellent ability to absorb other elements such as aluminium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten and copper which improves their performance in specific applications.
One of the most popular nickel alloys for piping is copper nickel. It is an excellent choice for corrosive environments, particularly those in the marine, power and nuclear industries. This is because of its good resistance to seawater and salt air corrosion. It also has good heat transfer capabilities. Its durability and reliability make it a popular metal for use in the construction of piping systems.
Another type of nickel-based alloy that can be used in piping is the Inconel family of superalloys. These are a group of austenitic nickel-chromium alloys that have been developed for use in a range of demanding applications. They are highly resistant to oxidation, carburization, and embrittlement from chloride stress corrosion cracking. They also have very good corrosion resistance in reducing acids, especially commercial phosphoric acid.
Inconel tubes can be manufactured in a number of ways, including tube extrusion and welded tubing. In tube extrusion, a round nickel billet is pressed through a die that has a hollow profile. The billet is held in place by a mandrel while it is squeezed through the die. The resulting hollow tube is then heat-cured. This process results in a high-quality, high-density, seamless, and long-lasting pipe. This is a very cost-effective method of manufacturing nickel alloy tubing. This method is also used to manufacture other types of metal products such as bars and forgings.