How to classify steel pipes in the market

In the steel pipe market, we can find various types of steel pipes with different shapes and specifications for a widely range of applications. It is considered as a very important step for you to know the classification of steel pipes before your purchase.

1. Production Methods
According to production methods, steel pipe falls into two major categories: seamless and welded steel pipe. Seamless steel pipe according to production methods can be divided into: hot-rolled seamless tube, cold drawn tubes, precision steel tube, thermal expansion tubes, pipes and cold extrusion spinning tubes. Based on welding process, welded steel pipe is divided into ERW steel pipe and automatic arc welded pipe, spiral welded pipe and so on. Generally, seamless steel pipe can be used for a variety of liquids, gas pipelines. Welded pipe can be used for water pipes, gas pipes, heating pipes and so on.

2. Shape classification by cross-section
Typically, by cross-section shape of steel products, steel pipes can be divided into three major categories: round steel pipe, square steel pipe and rectangular steel pipe in the current steel pipe market. Shaped steel tubing is a variety of non-circular annular cross-section of the pipe. Longitudinal steel pipe according to the shape is divided into: such as steel and tapered steel section. Variable cross-section (or tapered) pipe is the pipe length direction along the cross-section shape, inside and outside diameter and wall thickness and other periodic or aperiodic changes in the occurrence of the pipe. The common types of steel pipe are: outer conical tube, conical tube inside and outside ladder pipe, ladder within tube, cycle cross-section of pipe, corrugated pipe, spiral pipe, steel pipe with a heat sink and the barrel with a double-track and so on.

3. Classification by purpose
1) Scaffolding steel pipe: this type of steel pipe is widely used for building frames to support building workers in the construction activities including galvanized steel pipe, carbon steel pipe, cold rolled steel pipe, black steel pipe and so on.
2). Structural steel pipe: this type of steel pipe are widely used as building materials in construction, such as round steel pipe, square steel pipe, carbon steel pipe, rectangular steel pipe and etc.
3). Machinery tube: this type of steel pipe can also be called as aerospace structure steel pipe such as oval tube, flat oval tube, automobile axle tube, axle tubes, structural steel tubes for tractor, tractor oil cooler pipe, agricultural pipe and rectangular with a square tube, pipe, and bearing with the transformer tubes.