ASTM A179 Tubes are seamless, cold-drawn, low-carbon steel tubes engineered for superior performance in heat exchanger and condenser applications. Conforming to ASTM A179/ASME SA179 standards, these tubes provide excellent corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity, making them ideal for boiler pipeline protection in industries such as power generation, petrochemical, and chemical processing. Their seamless construction ensures durability and reliability under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.

The ASTM A179 Tubes are manufactured through a cold-drawing process, followed by heat treatment at 1200°F (650°C) or higher to optimize mechanical properties and surface finish. Available in outside diameters from 1/8” to 3” (3.2 mm to 76.2 mm) and wall thicknesses from 0.015” to 0.315” (0.4 mm to 8 mm), these tubes meet diverse project specifications. They undergo stringent testing, including flattening, flaring, hardness, and hydrostatic tests, ensuring compliance with ASTM A450/A450M standards. The low-carbon composition (0.06-0.18% carbon) enhances weldability and minimizes corrosion, making them perfect for seamless heat exchanger tubes.

These low carbon steel tubes excel in tubular heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat transfer equipment due to their high thermal conductivity and abrasion resistance. Their ability to resist pipeline wear and corrosion makes them a top choice for power plants, refineries, and HVAC systems. Surface treatments like oil-dip, varnish, or passivation, along with U-bending options, support complex heat exchanger designs. The tubes are packed in wooden boxes or bundles with plastic paper for secure, sea-worthy delivery, ensuring they arrive in pristine condition.

The ASTM A179 Tubes address critical challenges like thermal stress, corrosion, and pipeline wear in industrial piping systems. Their cost-effective design and seamless construction make them a reliable choice for engineers seeking durable condenser tubes for extreme environments. Whether used in boiler systems or chemical processing, these tubes deliver unmatched heat transfer efficiency, safety, and longevity.

ASTM A179 Tubes

Size range of ASTM A179 Tubes
OD(mm)	Wall Thickness Unit(mm)
OD(mm)	2	2.5	3	3.5	4	4.5	5	6	6.5 - 7	7.5 - 8	8.5 - 9	9.5 - 10	11	12
Φ25-Φ28	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ32		●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ34-Φ36		●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ38		●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ40			●	●	●	●	●
Φ42			●	●	●	●	●
Φ45			●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ48-Φ60			●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ63.5				●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ68-Φ73					●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ76					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ80					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ83					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ89					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ95					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ102					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ108					●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ114						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ121						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ127						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ133						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ140							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ146							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ152							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ159							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Φ168							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●

Comparison with Other Grade Tubes

Comparison of ASTM A179 Tubes with Other Tube Grades
Feature	ASTM A179	ASTM A192	ASTM A210 Grade A1
Material Type	Low-Carbon Steel	Carbon Steel	Medium-Carbon Steel
Temperature Range	Moderate (Ambient to 400°C)	High (Up to 650°C)	High (Up to 600°C)
Corrosion Resistance	Good (Low-Carbon)	Moderate	Moderate
Applications	Heat Exchangers, Condensers	High-Pressure Boilers	Boilers, Superheaters
Tensile Strength (MPa)	325 (min)	325 (min)	415 (min)
Yield Strength (MPa)	180 (min)	180 (min)	255 (min)
Key Advantage	High thermal conductivity	High-pressure resistance	High strength for boilers

Key Benefits

High Thermal Conductivity

Enhances heat transfer efficiency in condensers and heat exchangers.

Corrosion Resistance

Low-carbon steel resists corrosion in harsh environments.

Abrasion Resistance

Durable construction withstands pipeline wear and tear.

Seamless Durability

Cold-drawn process ensures uniform strength and reliability.

Flexible Installation

Supports U-bending and welding for versatile applications.

Cost-Effective

Low-carbon steel reduces costs without sacrificing quality.

ASTM/ASME A/SA179 and SA450 Seamless Tube

ASTM A179 and ASME SA179 specify seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes for heat exchangers and condensers, while ASME SA450 provides general requirements for carbon and low-alloy steel tubes. Below are the chemical composition, mechanical properties, and dimensional tolerances for these tubes.

Chemical Composition (ASTM A179)
Element	Percentage
Carbon (C)	0.06–0.18%
Manganese (Mn)	0.27–0.63%
Phosphorus (P)	≤0.035%
Sulfur (S)	≤0.035%
Silicon (Si)	≤0.25% (if applicable, per agreement)

Mechanical Properties (ASTM A179)
Property	Value
Tensile Strength	≥325 MPa (47 ksi)
Yield Strength	≥180 MPa (26 ksi)
Elongation	≥35% (in 2 inches)
Hardness	≤72 HRB (Rockwell B)

Dimensional Tolerance Range (ASME SA450)
Parameter	Tolerance
Outside Diameter (OD)	±0.10 mm for OD ≤ 38.1 mm; ±0.20 mm for OD > 38.1 mm
Wall Thickness	±10% of nominal wall thickness
Length	±6 mm for cut lengths; per agreement for specific lengths
Straightness	≤1.5 mm/m deviation

Chemical Composition of ASTM A179 Tubes
Element	Composition (%)
Carbon (C)	0.06-0.18
Manganese (Mn)	0.27-0.63
Phosphorus (P)	≤0.035
Sulfur (S)	≤0.035

Mechanical Properties of ASTM A179 Tubes
Property	Value
Tensile Strength, min (MPa)	325
Yield Strength, min (MPa)	180
Elongation, min (%)	35
Hardness, max (HRB)	72

ASTM A450/A450M Tube Tolerances

ASTM A450 covers carbon and low alloy steel tube. Steel samples shall be melt processed and shall either be ingot cast or strand cast. Heat and product analyses shall be performed on the steel materials. Steel specimens shall also undergo tensile tests and shall conform to required values of yield strength and elongation. Flattening test, reverse flattening test, flaring test, flange test, hardness test, hydrostatic test, air underwater pressure test, and nondestructive tests shall be performed on the steel materials.

Wall Thickness Tolerances
OD (in / mm)	≤0.095 in (2.4 mm)		0.095–0.150 in (2.4–3.8 mm)		0.150–0.180 in (3.8–4.6 mm)		>0.180 in (>4.6 mm)
	Seamless ±	Welded ±	Seamless ±	Welded ±	Seamless ±	Welded ±	Seamless ±	Welded ±
≤4 in (≤101.6 mm)	40 / 0%	18 / 0%	35 / 0%	18 / 0%	33 / 0%	18 / 0%	28 / 0%	18 / 0%
>4 in (>101.6 mm)	–	–	35 / 0%	18 / 0%	33 / 0%	18 / 0%	28 / 0%	18 / 0%

Outside Diameter Tolerances
Tube Type	OD Range	+ (in / mm)	– (in / mm)
Hot‑Finished Seamless	≤4 in (≤101.6 mm)	+1⁄64″ (0.4 mm)	–1⁄32″ (0.8 mm)
Hot‑Finished Seamless	>4–7½ in (101.6–190.5 mm)	+1⁄64″ (0.4 mm)	–3⁄64″ (1.2 mm)
Welded & Cold‑Finished Seamless	≤1 in (≤25.4 mm)	+0.004″ (0.1 mm)	–0.004″ (0.1 mm)
	1 – 1½ in (25.4–38.1 mm)	+0.006″ (0.15 mm)	–0.006″ (0.15 mm)
	1½ – 2 in (38.1–50.8 mm)	+0.008″ (0.2 mm)	–0.008″ (0.2 mm)
2 – 2½ in (50.8–63.5 mm)		+0.010″ (0.25 mm)	–0.010″ (0.25 mm)
2½ – 3 in (63.5–76.2 mm)		+0.012″ (0.30 mm)	–0.012″ (0.30 mm)
3 – 4 in (76.2–101.6 mm)		+0.015″ (0.38 mm)	–0.015″ (0.38 mm)
4 – 7½ in (101.6–190.5 mm)		+0.015″ (0.38 mm)	–0.025″ (0.64 mm)
7½ – 9 in (190.5–228.6 mm)		+0.015″ (0.38 mm)	–0.045″ (1.14 mm)

ASTM A179 (ASME SA179) specifies seamless, cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes for heat exchangers, condensers, boilers, and similar heat-transfer equipment, with outside diameters from 1/8″ to 3″ (3.2 – 76.2 mm).

Typical chemical limits are Carbon 0.06–0.18%, Manganese 0.27–0.63%, Phosphorus ≤0.035%, Sulfur ≤0.035%.

Minimum tensile strength is 325 MPa, yield ≥ 180 MPa, elongation ≥ 35%, and hardness ≤ 72 HRB.

Tubes are subjected to hardness, flattening, flaring, hydrostatic (or NDT), and flange tests per ASTM A450/A450M.

OD range is 1/8″–3″; wall thickness tolerance is +20%/–0 for OD ≤1½″, +22%/–0 for larger. Length tolerance and OD variations are defined per standard — e.g., OD under 1″ ±0.004″.

Yes—after cold drawing, tubes are normalized or annealed at ≥ 1200 °F (650 °C).

Standard lengths: ~5.8–12 m, with max up to ~28 m. U-bending is available on request.

Widely used in heat exchangers, condensers, boilers, power plants, petrochemical and HVAC systems.

Tubes typically have Rockwell hardness up to 72 HRB, ensuring ductility and machinability.

ASTM A183 specifies electric-resistance welded low-carbon steel straight or curved boiler tubing—not to be confused with seamless cold-drawn A179 tubes.

Industry Applications of ASTM A179/A179M Tubes

ASTM A179/A179M seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes are widely used in high-pressure, heat transfer, and hygienic applications across diverse industries.

Heat Exchangers & Condensers

Used extensively in tubular heat exchangers, condensers, boilers, and similar equipment where efficient thermal transfer and pressure tolerance are required. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Power Generation

Applied in power plants—thermal and nuclear—for steam transfer systems, thanks to their high pressure and temperature resistance. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Petrochemical & Chemical

Used in petrochemical plants, gas processing, and specialty chemicals for safe transport of aggressive fluids under heat and pressure. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Pharmaceutical & Food

Employed in pharmaceutical equipment and food-grade condensers where hygienic standards and corrosion resistance are essential. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Sea Water & Offshore

Suitable for seawater equipment and offshore drilling platforms due to its corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Pulp & Paper Industry

Used in heat transfer and processing equipment where reliability under pressure and temperature is critical. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

ASTM A179 Tubes

ASTM A179 Tubes

Comparison with Other Grade Tubes