Stainless steel corrugated tubes are specialized flexible components engineered for high-pressure and high-temperature applications, delivering robust corrosion resistant flexible pipes in dynamic industrial environments. Formed by helically or annularly corrugating seamless or welded base tubes, these products provide exceptional axial elongation, compression, and angular deflection capabilities, making them indispensable for expansion joints, metal hoses, and vibration isolators. Primarily constructed from austenitic grades like 304L, 316L, and 321, they conform to ASTM A312, ASME B31.3, and EJMA standards, offering superior resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion, and fatigue in aggressive conditions such as seawater, acids, and high-velocity fluids. Ideal for high pressure corrugated hoses in petrochemical transfer lines and marine exhaust systems, these tubes withstand pressures up to 100 bar and temperatures from -200°C to 600°C, preventing leaks and structural failures in rigid piping setups.

The corrugation process, achieved through hydraulic forming or rotary rolling on parent tubes with 0.5-3mm wall thicknesses, enhances flexibility without sacrificing the alloy's inherent corrosion resistance, with 316L variants featuring 2-3% molybdenum for enhanced performance in chloride-rich settings like desalination plants. Low-carbon formulations (boiler expansion tubing. Available in nominal diameters from 1/4" to 12" (6-300mm), with convolution pitches of 8-20mm and heights of 3-10mm, these tubes accommodate custom designs including braided reinforcements for burst protection and flanged ends for straightforward integration into industrial corrugated steel pipes assemblies, ensuring compliance with API 661 for air-cooled heat exchangers.

In vibration-intensive applications, such as pump discharges or compressor hoses, the corrugated geometry absorbs axial, lateral, and angular movements up to 30° while resisting erosion from abrasive slurries, with finishes ranging from mill to electropolished (Ra corrosion resistant flexible pipes must endure H2S and CO2 per NACE MR0175.

Relative to copper or carbon steel options, stainless steel corrugated tubes achieve 5-10x extended service life in corrosive atmospheres thanks to their self-passivating chromium oxide layer, featuring lower thermal expansion (16-18 x 10^-6/°C) to lessen stress in fluctuating boiler operations. Duplex grades like 2205 furnish hybrid strength for high-pressure subsea hoses, but austenitic prevalence in flexibility favors them for high pressure corrugated hoses in automotive exhausts and aerospace ducts. Their recyclability (up to 95%) and non-magnetic attributes (permeability

Confronting critical issues like thermal fatigue in expansion loops or chloride pitting in coastal setups, these tubes diminish unplanned downtime by 50-70% via innate vibration damping and erosion barriers, adhering to ASME Section VIII for pressure vessels. Whether utilized for boiler expansion tubing in power generation or versatile industrial corrugated steel pipes in mining slurry lines, stainless steel corrugated tubes furnish adaptable, resilient operation with validated success across worldwide severe-duty industries, enabling engineers to craft more secure and effective systems.

Compared with ordinary seamless steel pipes, stainless steel corrugated tubes offer a larger heat exchange area, smaller tube wall thermal resistance, and excellent heat transfer coefficients. This makes them an innovative, high-efficiency heat exchange solution that has been widely adopted in heat exchange equipment as a replacement for traditional tubes.

Heat exchanger stainless steel corrugated tubes are thin-walled tubes with continuously tangent large and small arcs forming internal and external corrugations. This design creates three-dimensional fluid movement, resulting in intense turbulence even at low flow rates. The thin tube wall minimizes temperature gradients, significantly reducing thermal resistance and improving overall heat transfer efficiency.

Stainless steel corrugated tube showing its unique wave structure

Close-up view of stainless steel corrugated tube

Properties and Specifications

Stainless steel corrugated tubes are renowned for their flexibility, durability, and resistance to high temperatures. They are commonly utilized in heating systems, air conditioning, solar technology, and various applications requiring reliable, versatile piping solutions.

Materials

Typically manufactured from 1.4301, 1.4404, or 1.4571 grades, offering excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties suitable for diverse environments.

Dimensions

Available with nominal diameters ranging from DN12 to DN50. Lengths can be customized according to specific project requirements.

Advantages for Heat Exchangers

Enhanced Heat Transfer Efficiency: The uneven surface creates strong turbulence, significantly improving heat transfer coefficients. Overall efficiency is 2-3 times higher than conventional tube designs.
High Temperature and Pressure Resistance: Despite thin walls (0.6-1.2mm), the specialized forming process and arc shape enhance pressure capacity. Suitable for temperatures up to 350°C with excellent adaptability to temperature differentials.
Self-Cleaning Properties: Thermal expansion and contraction create a self-cleaning effect, reducing scaling while compensating for thermal stress. This addresses common issues with fouling, corrosion, and blockage in heat exchangers.
Improved Safety and Durability: The corrugated design reduces tube sheet thermal stress, preventing tube opening fractures and leakage for safer, longer-lasting performance.
Uniform Stress Distribution: Unique "soft forming" process eliminates forced metal flow, reducing stress concentration and residual stress. This results in superior stress corrosion resistance.
Cost-Effectiveness: Ultra-thin stainless steel construction extends service life while reducing material usage, weight, and operational costs. The improved performance-to-cost ratio delivers significant economic benefits.

Chemical Composition of Stainless Steel Corrugated Tubes
Grade	C	Mn	Si	P	S	Cr	Ni	Others
304L	0.03	2.00	0.75	0.045	0.030	18.0-20.0	8.0-12.0	N: 0.10
316L	0.03	2.00	0.75	0.045	0.030	16.0-18.0	10.0-14.0	Mo: 2.0-3.0
321	0.08	2.00	0.75	0.045	0.030	17.0-19.0	9.0-12.0	Ti: 5xC min
310S	0.08	2.00	1.50	0.045	0.030	24.0-26.0	19.0-22.0	-

Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel Corrugated Tubes
Grade	Tensile Strength (MPa)	Yield Strength (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (HB max)
304L	485	170	40	201
316L	485	170	40	217
321	515	205	40	217
310S	515	205	40	217

Technical drawing of stainless steel corrugated tube dimensions

Key Features

Material Excellence: Crafted from premium stainless steel grades (304, 316, 321) providing superior corrosion resistance, heat tolerance, and durability.
Corrugated Design: Unique ridge and groove structure enables bending and flexing without compromising structural integrity.
Exceptional Flexibility: Ideal for applications requiring movement, vibration absorption, or installation in confined spaces.
Superior Strength: Resistant to high pressure, extreme temperatures, and mechanical stress.

Hydraulic Hose Specifications
Nominal Bore (NB) (mm)	Min. Radius Bend		Without Braid		Single Braid		Double Braid
Nominal Bore (NB) (mm)	Static (mm)	Flexing (mm)	Maximum Pressure Kg/cm²	Test Pressure Kg/cm²	Maximum Pressure Kg/cm²	Test Pressure Kg/cm²	Maximum Pressure Kg/cm²	Test Pressure Kg/cm²
6	25	100	4	6	100	150	160	240
10	40	150	4	6	90	135	144	216
12	50	200	3	4.5	80	120	128	192
16	50	200	3	4.5	70	105	112	168
20	70	200	2	3	64	96	102	153
25	90	200	2	3	50	75	80	120
32	110	250	1.5	2.3	40	60	64	96
40	130	250	1.5	2.3	30	45	48	92
50	175	350	1.0	1.5	28	42	44	66
65	200	410	1.0	1.5	24	36	38	57
80	205	450	1.0	1.5	18	27	28	42
100	230	560	0.8	1.2	16	24	26	39
125	280	660	0.6	0.9	12	18	20	30
150	320	816	0.6	0.9	10	15	16	24
200	435	1015	0.5	0.75	8	12	12	18