A53 Pipe

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ASTM A53 is one of the most widely used material standards for Steel Pipe that used in the Oil and Gas and other process industries. Grade B of ASTM A 53 is more popular than other grades.  These pipes can be bare pipes without any coating, or it may be Hot-Dipped or Zinc-Coated and manufactured by Welding or by a Seamless manufacturing process.

In Oil and Gas, A53 grade pipes are used in the structural and non-critical applications. They are not used in hydrocarbon services or any services that involve pressure and temperature.

Pipe Size and Types Covered in ASTM A53

Pipe size NPS 1/8” to NPS 26” are covered in this standard. This is equivalent to DN 6 to DN 650.

There are three types of pipes covered in this standard.

•  Type F – Furnace-butt welded continuous Welded Pipe.

• Grade A

Type F Garde A type pipe is made by continuous coil, and the longitudinal joint is welded by forge welding. In this process, sets of rollers are used that create mechanical pressure to joined heated ends of the coil.

• Type E – Electric Resistance Welded Pipe.

• Grade A

• Grade B

Garde A and Garde B pipes of Type E are made by continuous coil, and the longitudinal joint is welded by heat produced due to electric resistance between opposite ends of the pipe. In this process also, a set of rollers are used to join heated ends. The weld seam of Grade Bpipes is heat-treated after welding to a minimum of 540°C. 

• Type S – Seamless Pipe

• Grade B     

• Grade A

Type S  types of pipes are manufactured using the extrusion method.

Raw steel used to manufacture pipes is produced by open-hearth, electric furnace, or basic-oxygen method.

Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties of ASTM A53 Pipes

Iron is the main element in the A53 pipe. Other elements such as Carbon, Manganese, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Copper, Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, and Vanadium are also available in small quantities. Refer table below the Type -E, F, and Type S Chemical Composition.

Mechanical Properties of ASTM A53

Minimum acceptable values for Tensile strength and Yield strength in Mpa for the mechanical test of ASTM A53 Pipes are listed below.

Inspection and testing of Pipe

During the inspection of the pipe, you have to perform the following test on the pipe to check the quality of the final product.

1. Chemical Analysis of the final product. Number of test – 2 Pipe per lot of 500 or 2 Pipe per heat Number. If either pipe fails- two more pipes shall be tested from the same lot

2. Tensile Test – This test is performed to check the mechanical properties of the pipe. For the welded pipe, the strength of the weld should not be less than the strength of the pipe body.

3. Bending Test – For pipe size NPS 2 and smaller bending test is performed to check the ductility of the pipe. Bend test can be 90 Degree of 180 Degree depending on the requirement.  

4. Flattening Test – Pipe size over NPS 2 are tested for the ductility by flattening test. A sample from the pipe is cut and placed between two flat surfaces and flattened as specified in ASTM A53.    

5. Hydrotest – This test is performed on each length of the pipe to check the leak. Pressure shall be hold for 5 seconds or more.

6. Ultrasonic or Electromagnetic Test of weld seam– This non-destructive test is performed on the full length of weld to check the soundness of the weld