A106B Steel Pipe

Kloeckner stocks A106 grade B steel pipes, specifically designed to transport fluids and gases at high temperatures and pressures.

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Typical Standards

FormatGrade Sizes routinely stocked (Imperial units)
Schedule Length
SeamlessA106B40, 80, 120, 160 21', 42'

General Info About A106B

Primarily employed in pipeline systems, A106 steel usually transmits oil, gas, water, or mineral slurry. It can also be used for construction, structural, or boiler purposes.

A106 steel comes in three grades — A, B, and C. Kloeckner Metals routinely offers A106 Grade B pipe in a seamless format. Our pipes come in both standard lengths, 21′ and 42′, and we carry schedules 40, 80, 120, and 160. We can cut our pipe to any length and in several shapes.

More Details About A106B

  • Chemical Composition

    A106 steel’s chemical composition is similar to that of A53 Grade B and API 5L B. Its carbon content maxes out at 0.3% and its nickel at 0.4%. Its manganese minimum must fall between 0.29% and 1.06%.

    Grade B maintains a higher carbon content than grade A but less than grade C. For each reduction of 0.01% of the maximum carbon amoun, manganese may increase 0.06% above the specified value up to a maximum of 1.35%.

    The differences in chemistry between A53 and A106 seem minor, but they are important. A53 steel may include silicon, but A106 steel must include at least 0.10% silicon in the alloy. Silicon is an important component in heat resistance ability.

    A106 steel must be produced with killed steel — a totally deoxidized alloy that features a high degree of chemical homogeneity. In killed steel, no reaction occurs between the carbon and the oxygen during solidification. Consequently, the product is more chemically uniform.

  • Advantages/Disadvantages

    In general, carbon steel is simple to process and relatively inexpensive. It works well under pressure and features good mechanical properties.

    Like other carbon steels, A106 is stable, durable, safe, cost effective, and recyclable.

    Specifically, A106 steel is resistant to high pressure and heat. This type of steel undergoes hydrostatic testing after production. The test pressure stands at 2500 psi for sizes NPS 2 and under and maintained for at least five seconds. Manufacturers may elect to do nondestructive electric testing in lieu of hydrostatic testing.

    These high-pressure, high-temperature steel pipes are extremely strong and resist corrosion. They perform better when exposed to intense heat. These pipes are sturdy, precisely constructed, and durable. They last a long time.

    Because it is a seamless steel, A106 grade B pipe may be stronger than welded pipe because it lacks the seam. Modern manufacturing practices, however, create welded pipe that is as structurally stable and high performing as seamless pipe.

    In fact, seamless pipe is certainly more expensive than welded pipe, and it may show an inconsistent wall thickness due to the stretching and rolling process it undergoes. In structural applications, the two types of steel perform equally well.

    Welded steel is cheaper and more readily available than seamless steel. For high temperature applications, however, consumers must use seamless steel such as A106 to meet industry standards.

  • Industries

    Industries that require high-pressure, high-temperature piping for transporting liquids typically use A106 steel. Oil and gas, power generation, and pharmaceutical industries all typically use A106. Other industries that use A106 grade B steel include food and beverage, hydraulics, mining, and construction.

  • Applications

    A106 steel pipe can be used in constructing gas or oil refineries, petrochemical plants, power plants, boilers, or ships that transport gases or fluids at high temperatures and pressure levels. Structural applications, spreader bars, and mechanical components may also use this type and grade of steel.

  • Machining

    Carbon content determines ease of machinability. Steel with a carbon content of 0.2-0.3 percent is the easiest steel to machine and fabricate. A106 steel has a carbon content of 0.3, but its relatively high nickel content works against machinability. Thus, this steel is easier to machine than many metal materials, but less than others, putting it around the median of machinability.

  • Welding

    A106 steel cannot be welded. It must be seamless.

  • Heat Treatment

    Type A106 steel can either be hot finished or cold drawn. Hot finished steel is worked at temperatures over 1700 degrees F while cold drawn steel is worked at room temperatures. Due to the nature of the material, hot finished steel is generally stronger. Hot finished pipe does not require heat treatment. Generally, A106 grade B pipe on and over NPS 2″ is hot finished.

    A cold finished product has absorbed the stress of the hardening process, thus it may be slightly less hard. It should, however, offer greater aesthetics, better dimensional control, and a smoother surface condition. Cold drawn A106 steel must be stress relieved at temperatures of 1200 degrees F or higher.

Chemical Properties Grade B

CMnPSSiCrCuMoNiV
0.30%0.29 - 1.06%0.035%0.035%0.10%0.40%0.40%0.15%0.40%0.08%

Mechanical Properties Grade B

Mechanical Properties
Imperial
Tensile Strength, Minimum60,000 psi
Tensile Strength, Yield Minimum35,000 psi

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does A106B steel pipe compare to A53B?

    ANSWER:

    Like their chemical composition, A106B and A53B steel have similar mechanical strengths. The major difference between the two lies in their production. A106 steel can only be seamless while A53 may be either seamless or welded. Despite their minor differences in composition and strength, A106 steel can substitute for A53 provided that there is no need for a galvanized finish.

  • What is the difference between seamless and welded pipes?

    ANSWER:

    Seamless pipes are formed by drawing a solid shape over a sheet of steel to form a tube-like structure. Welded pipes, by contrast, are folded into a flat strip of metal and joined by a longitudinal weld.

  • What is the difference between steel pipe and steel tube?

    ANSWER:

    ○ Pipes are round. Tubes come in many shapes, including round, rectangular, and oval.
    ○ Pipes mainly carry fluids and gases. Tubes may also be used for structural applications.

  • What does it mean that A106B pipe is available seamless?

    ANSWER:

    Seamless pipe has not been welded. Therefore, it contains no welding ‘seam.’ Instead of being folded and welded together, seamless pipe is rolled into a cylinder shape. Transporting high-temperature, high-pressure fluids and gases requires seamless pipe.

Services provided to A106B Steel Pipe products

Tapping

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Tube Laser

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Industries served by A106B Steel Pipe

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