Stainless Steel Pipes Key Terms

Learn basic stainless steel piping terms to improve your business practices

By Jennifer Ehlenfeldt, Freelance Writer

The use of stainless steel pipes can make any task more productive with the right knowledge. Take a few moments to learn some basic piping terms so you can better understand the variety of stainless steel options available and what their best uses are.

Pipes made of stainless steel are less porous and can be much more rigid than other types, making them more beneficial in some circumstances. Learn how conditioning affects steel pipes and find a few other simple definitions to guide you.

Brazing

Brazing is the process of joining two or more solids by heating them and melting them into one piece. Some stainless steel pipes are made by brazing two or more steel pieces together.
Try: Read the brazing definition on the Stainless Steel Technical Glossary. The glossary includes several useful stainless steel piping terms.

Casing

A casing is a pipe used to create the walls in a hole that has been drilled. The pipes are put in place as structural retainers.
Try: Casing is defined in the glossary of terms at the Steel Pipes and Tubes website.

Modulus of elasticity

Modulus of elasticity is the measurement of stress to strain. Stainless steel piping is measured by its rigidity and how well it can carry a load. The higher the measurement, usually in pounds per square inch (psi), the more rigid the pipe is.
Try: Review the definition of modulus of elasticity at Rath Gibson. Their website includes a glossary of tubing and pipes.

Aluminized steel

Aluminized steel is steel that has been coated with aluminum as a way to prevent corrosion.
Try: Schelber Chimney Systems defines aluminized steel in their glossary of terms. They also provide definitions for many other useful stainless steel piping terms.

Conditioning

Conditioning is defined as the process of removing defects on the surface of a steel pipe. The defects can include pits, laps or seams.
Try: Read the definition of conditioning at Plymouth Tube Company. The piping manufacturer provides a glossary of many other stainless steel pipe terms.

Annealing

Annealing, also called solution annealing, is a heating process that creates a soft structure. The process helps relieve stress on the stainless steel and creates a corrosion resistant surface.
Try: Read the complete definition of annealing at the Stainless Steel Information Center. Find out how the process works with stainless steel pipes and read about what additional treatments come after annealing in many instances.