Zirconium Welded Pipe

    Dual gas protection and Zero Interstitial Contamination (Zero Interstitial Contamination): Zirconium has strong gas absorption at high temperature, and the intrusion of trace oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen will cause the weld to become instantaneously brittle. We adopt customized ultra-long Trailing Shields and in-tube back-blown high-purity argon systems to ensure that the entire weld pool and heat affected zone (HAZ) are always in a 99.999% inert gas barrier before completely cooling below 200 °C, eliminating any potential pores and embrittlement.

    Post-Weld Grain Refinement (Post-Weld Grain Refinement): In response to buyers' concerns about "weld cracking", we implement rigorous thermal mechanical treatment (PWHT) on pipes after welding. Through re-crystallization annealing and deformation at a specific temperature, the columnar crystals in the weld zone are completely transformed into fine and uniform equiaxed crystals, so that the corrosion resistance at the weld zone is perfectly isotropic with the base metal.

    Advanced Scale Optimization for large-diameter and thin-walled pipes: It breaks through the process limit of seamless pipes in the manufacture of super-large-diameter (such as outer diameter ≥ 100 mm) and special thin-walled pipes. Through precise sheet metal numerical control forming and automatic longitudinal seam welding, we can provide full-scale customization with international competitiveness while consuming a large amount of expensive rare metal raw materials.

    We strictly comply with international standards, and at room temperature (20 °C), the mechanical properties of welded zirconium pipes are not only fully compliant, but also reserve a higher safety margin:

    Material Grade (Grade): UNS R60702 (general industrial pure zirconium)/customizable UNS R60705 (zirconium-niobium alloy-with higher strength)

    Tensile Strength: UNS R60702: ≥ 380 MPa, UNS R60705: ≥ 550 MPa

    Yield Strength: UNS R60702: ≥ 205 MPa, UNS R60705: ≥ 380 MPa

    Elongation: UNS R60702: ≥ 16% (exhibits excellent field bending and flare bending processing performance) UNS R60705: ≥ 16%

    Sealing Safety Guarantee (Leak Rate): 100% undergo hydraulic test, eddy current flaw detection (ET) and optional helium mass spectrometry vacuum leak detection, and the overall vacuum Leak Rate is ≤ 10-10 Pa · m3/s.

III. Strict standard chemical composition control (Chemical Profile Weight%)

    We have implemented strict internal upper limit capping for interstitial elements (gas impurities) that play a decisive role in tensile strength and corrosion resistance life, which is strictly in line with and better than the ASTM B551 standard:

    Zr + Hf (zirconium + hafnium purity): ≥ 99. 2% (Hf content in R60702 grade is ≤ 4. 5% occurring naturally)

    O (oxygen): ≤ 0. 16% (precise control of narrow window, balance strength and hardness, prevent cold brittleness)

    H (hydrogen): ≤ 0. 005% N (nitrogen): ≤ 0. 025% C (carbon): ≤ 0. 05%

    Fe + Cr (iron + chromium): ≤ 0. 20%

    We offer a wide range of spot tube blanks and highly flexible drawing orders:

    Technical Standards: ASTM B551/B551M (Base Metal Standard Specification), ASTM B658/B658M (Zirconium and Zirconium Alloy Welded Pipe Standard), ASME SB658 (Pressure Vessel Specification)

    Outer Diameter range (Outer Diameter): φ 10 mm-φ 600 mm (from precision heat exchanger condenser tubes to large chemical plant main process pipelines)

    Wall Thickness range (Wall Thickness): 0.5 mm-12.0 mm

    Product Length (Length): Standard single 6.0 meters, can be precisely cut to Length according to container transportation requirements or engineering site drawings.

V. Lean Manufacturing Process and Surface Treatment

    CNC rolling arc and groove modification: select high-quality ASTM B551 zirconium plate, carry out high-precision mechanical milling after CNC blanking, remove the heat-affected layer, and process standard V-shaped or X-shaped automatic welding groove.

    Edge ultra-purification pickling: Before welding, the edge of the butt weld is subjected to harsh chemical oxidation removal film and ultrasonic degreasing, and any trace hydrocarbons are strictly prohibited from entering the weld pool.

    Full inert gas shielded welding (GTAW/EBW): Automatic longitudinal seam fusion is performed in a dedicated high-purity argon barrier or a cavity equipped with a high-vacuum electron beam to ensure 100% Full Penetration (Full Penetration).

    Surface Treatment: The remaining heights inside and outside the weld are non-destructive grinding and polishing, and the whole pipe fittings undergo high-purity mixed acid pickling and passivation (Pickled & Passivated Finish, Ra ≤ 0.8 um), the surface presents a clean silvery white, and wrapped in special pearl cotton and export grade fumigation-free wooden box packaging before leaving the factory.

VI. Cross-border cutting-edge applications (High-Value Market Applications)

    Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers (Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers): In the production of Acetic Acid, formic acid, high concentration hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, welded zirconium tubes are the selected materials for heat exchanger tube bundles, which have high heat transfer efficiency and long anti-corrosion life.

    Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing: Zirconium has unparalleled corrosion resistance to boiling nitric acid at concentrations of up to 20%. Nuclear grade welded zirconium tubes are widely used in concentrated nitric acid dissolution reactors and radioactive medium conduction pipelines in the reprocessing process of nuclear power plants.

    Bimetallic composite pipes and high-end pressure vessels (ASME Vessels): as lining anti-corrosion pipes (Zirconium Liner), they are mechanically or composite with outer carbon steel pipes to manufacture super-large high-pressure anti-corrosion chemical towers.