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ABRASION-RESISTANT PIPES

Abrasion-resistant pipes, sometimes referred to as wear-resistant pipes, are built to withstand the toughest, most abrasive materials. Unlike mild steel pipe, abrasion-resistant pipes are specifically engineered to last longer, require less downtime, and increase productivity. With these benefits, you will save thousands of dollars by dramatically extending the useful life of the pipe.

Making abrasion-resistant pipes through induction heating

Why Choose Ultra Tech for Wear-Resistant Pipes

Our wear-resistant, abrasion-resistant pipes save your company money. Our hardened pipe lasts up to 6 times longer than standard pipe, which means less downtime for increased productivity and the lowest total cost of ownership.

Lowest Total Cost of Ownership

What do we mean when we say Ultra Tech provides the lowest total cost of ownership? Here is a math example for clarification: Soft steel pipe lasts 1 year and costs $100k plus $50k installation. Ultra Tech abrasion-resistant pipes last 5 years and cost $300k plus $50k installation. While the upfront cost of Ultra Tech abrasion pipes is higher than soft steel pipe, over time Ultra Tech pipe saves downtime and installation costs when compared to softer steel for a total savings of $400k.

Less Downtime, More Productivity

In addition to saving downtime from yearly installation of soft steel pipe, abrasion-resistant pipes require less maintenance and repairs than soft steel, which also means less downtime and lower costs. Plus, all of our hardened pipe can be ultrasonically tested, so you can avoid the time and cost of shutting down the line to take the pipe apart for wear inspection. 

Induction Hardened Pipe Process: How Abrasion-resistant pipes are made

Making abrasion-resistant pipes with quenching during induction

Ultra Tech uses its in-house metallurgy lab, expert welders, and technologically advanced robotics to create top-of-the-line, wear-resistant pipes. To create wear-resistant pipes, a unique heating and quenching process alters the microstructure of the steel, resulting in an ideal induction-hardened pipe profile with outstanding inner abrasion resistance and outer wall ductility for the most mission-critical applications. 

First, we begin with steel pipe rolled and formed using our proprietary steel chemistry. Next, we use our specific induction hardening process, which includes induction heating of the pipe. To cool the pipe, the inner pipe wall is water quenched. Sudden cooling of the pipe’s hot surface creates a martensitic microstructure within the pipe, toughening the pipe for superior abrasion resistance. The pipe’s outer surface cools more slowly, increasing ductility and tensile strength up to 90 KSI. Finally, the product is complete. The results are an abrasion-resistant pipe with an outer wall that is ductile enough to accommodate high-pressure service and welding stresses, and an inner wall that resists abrasive slurries and the toughest conveyance materials. 

Our Wear-Resistant Piping Products

ULTRA 200 pipe

Ultra 200 induction hardened pipe offers improved wear resistance up to 2 times the life of mild steel pipe. With a 200 BHN inner surface, this pipe is stronger than mild steel, resulting in less maintenance and downtime that will save money over the lifetime of the pipe.

ULTRA 600 Pipe

As our toughest induction hardened pipe, Ultra 600 lasts up to 6 times the life of mild steel pipe and provides significant savings on the total life-cycle cost. With a 600 BHN inner surface tapering to 250 BHN on the outer wall, this is the ideal pipe profile for outstanding inner abrasion resistance and outer tensile strength.

The XLE Line of elbows are heavy walled and cast from steel with high manganese content. The impact from pneumatic applications actually hardens the ID of the elbow over time!

Our threaded pipe is a safe and cost-effective option from our line of induction hardened pipe that results in faster installation, less downtime, and longer life.

Pipe BENDS & Fittings

Our pipe bends and pipe fittings are made with the same proprietary chemistry and induction hardening process as our pipe. We offer a wide variety of pipe bends and fittings to lengthen your pipe run or change the flow direction of your pipe system. Pipe fittings include:  couplings, elbows, end grooves, flanges, laterals, reducers, tees, unions, weld rings, and wyes.

Looking for custom pipe Bending, fabrication and fitting services?

Ultra Tech also offers a complete range of bending and fabrication services for piping and structural applications. Our in-house metallurgy lab, expert welders, and technologically advanced robotics can create entire custom system solutions, or custom bending and fabrication, to fit any job. With in-house manufacturing and testing, Ultra Tech solutions allow for shorter lead times and responsive customer support.

Use Cases and Applications

We operate as though we are part of your team and provide an uncompromising focus on safety in everything we do. Whether we are producing the toughest wear-resistant piping or providing an easy, cost-effective option for fast installation, safety is always number one. Feel confident using our pipe for the following applications:

  • High impact
  • High abrasion and erosion, especially sliding abrasion
  • High-abrasive slurry conveyance
  • Paste backfill
  • Shotcrete
  • Borehole or vertical
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Every pipe application is different. The materials and metals you select for each use vary based on a number of properties. These properties can include tensile strength, Brinell Hardness and much more. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about a variety of induction hardened pipe properties.

What is a martensitic microstructure?

Martensite is a strong, hardened structure formed in the pipe wall during our heat treatment process. the martensite structure within the wall of the pipe adds significant hardness, strength, and durability to the pipe. 

What is BHN inner surface?

BHN stands for Brinell Hardness Number and is used to indicate the hardness level of metal or ceramic surfaces. A Brinell Hardness test is used to determine a material’s BHN. During a Brinell Hardness test, the hardness of metal is measured by evaluating and establishing the metal’s resistance to the penetration of a non-deformable steel ball. The diameter of the impression at a pre-defined load determines the Brinell Hardness Number. The higher the number, the harder the material being tested.

Standard mild steel pipe reaches a Brinell Hardness Number (BHN) of 120 BHN. For comparison, abrasion-resistant Ultra 600 pipe reaches 600 BHN and Ultra 220 pipe reaches 220 BHN.

What is tensile strength?

Tensile strength is the resistance of a material to breaking under tension. When we say Ultra 600 pipe has tensile strength up to 90 KSI, we mean that the pipe can withstand 90,000 pounds of force per square inch.

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