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ASTM A179 carbon steel heat exchanger tube
Seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tube to ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 for heat exchangers, condensers, feedwater heaters and coolers. Our most-ordered product, made to your size and length and delivered to site anywhere in South Africa.
Overview
ASTM A179 is the standard specification for seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tube for tubular heat exchangers, condensers and similar heat transfer equipment. It is the workhorse tube for shell-and-tube exchangers in power stations, petrochemical plants and refineries wherever the process fluid does not call for stainless or titanium.
Tubes are cold drawn for close dimensional tolerance and a smooth bore, then heat treated after the final cold draw so they expand and roll cleanly into tube sheets. Each tube is tested to the general requirements of ASTM A450, including flattening, flaring and a hydrostatic or electric non-destructive test.
Typical applications
- Shell-and-tube heat exchanger retubes and new builds
- Power station feedwater heaters and condensers
- Oil coolers, air coolers and process coolers
- Refinery and petrochemical heat transfer equipment
Specification at a glance
| Standard | ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 |
| Material | Low-carbon steel, seamless cold drawn |
| Typical OD | 1/8″ to 3″ (3.2 mm to 76.2 mm) |
| Ends | Plain, cut to your length; U-bends on request |
| Testing | To ASTM A450: flattening, flaring, hydrostatic or NDE |
| Order quantity | No minimum or maximum |
Technical data
Chemical composition (%)
| Carbon | Manganese | Phosphorus | Sulphur |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.06–0.18 | 0.27–0.63 | ≤0.035 | ≤0.035 |
Mechanical properties
| Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation in 50 mm | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≥ 325 MPa (47 ksi) | ≥ 180 MPa (26 ksi) | ≥ 35% | ≤ 72 HRB |
Values are the minimum or maximum requirements of the standard. Tubes are supplied with mill test certificates on request; confirm your documentation needs when you ask for a quote.
Made to order
Drawn to your outside diameter, wall thickness and length. We do not hold stock, so you get exactly what the exchanger needs.
Lead time
Every quote states a lead time you can use in your tender or shutdown plan.
Delivered to site
Bundled and delivered to your workshop or site anywhere in South Africa.
Need a price for A179 tube?
Send the outside diameter, wall thickness, length and quantity and we will come back with a price and lead time.
