Pipeline Material and Grade Selection

Metallic materials began to be used for piping system regularly in 1950s as implementation of Code API 5L about steel material selection for piping system. At the end 1980s there were various kinds of steel material for pipe based on the grade which was set by API such as grade A25, A, B, X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X64, X70 and X80. In each grade there are differences in mechanical properties depending on chemical content and its containing material. Specifications steel material in the manufacturing process generally refers to chemical composition, material strength, and manufacturing tolerance.

Some criteria should be determined to get right material and suitable for piping system design. The following below are the criteria that can be used in the analysis of pipe material selection:

·         Mechanical properties, include:

 Material strength to resist static load

 Material toughness to resist dynamic load

 Material ductility due to installation piping system process

·         Weld ability

 Ability of material pipe to be easily welded or not.

·         Corrosion resistance

 Material pipe ability to resist corrosion.

·         Cost, relating to the price of material pipe to be used.

·         Availability

Relating to availability of material pipe on the market in large numbers, this condition should be analyzed to avoid special order that allow high price for the production.

Reference : http://pipinganalysis.blogspot.com