Stainless Steel Pipes for Cryogenic Applications: Material Behavior and Design Considerations
Date:2025-03-09View:48Tags:welded pipe,smls pipe china,sch 40 carbon steel pipe
Cryogenic stainless steel pipes are widely used in LNG (liquefied natural gas) transport, liquid hydrogen storage, and aerospace applications. Key technical aspects include:
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Low-Temperature Impact Toughness: Austenitic stainless steels (304, 316, and 304L) maintain ductility and toughness at -196°C, unlike ferritic steels, which become brittle.
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Phase Stability and Brittle Fracture Resistance: Austenitic stainless steels have an FCC (face-centered cubic) crystal structure, which prevents low-temperature embrittlement.
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Welding Challenges: Specialized cryogenic welding consumables such as ER308L and ER316L are required, along with controlled heat input to minimize the heat-affected zone (HAZ) cracks.