Pipe fittings are essential for all plumbing applications. They are used to connect pipework together and form angles. Plumbing fittings come in various different types to reduce the flow size from larger to smaller or to change the direction of flow between two pieces of pipe work. Choose from metal or plastic fittings and various pack sizes.
Material: Stainless Steel
Cast stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and does not rust even with salt water or water at high or low temperatures. The stainless steel is an alloy that has several outstanding characteristics such as durability, lower maintenance, high-temperature resistance, cryogenic toughness, and good corrosion resistance.
The stainless steel pipe fittings are available in different cast stainless steel grades including 304, 316, and 316L stainless steel. Different casting grades of stainless steel are suitable for different environments.
Casting Method: Stainless Steel Investment Casting
The process to produce cast stainless steel pipe fittings is investment casting in lost wax method. In stainless steel investment casting, a specific and general wax pattern of the preferred pipe fitting is produced and mounted onto a wax tree. The wax tree is interchangeably plunged into a ceramic substance and topped with a stucco material. After this, it is left to dry out, and the process is repeated until a thick shell is achieved.
Once the shell is achieved, it is then melted out, creating a cavity in the form of the preferred pattern. The molten stainless steel is then poured in such an area until it is filled. After the molten stainless steel solidifies, the thick shell is fragmented, and the gating material is detached. The remaining parts are the finished pipe fitting castings.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Casting for Pipe Fittings
- Stainless steel casting combines good corrosion resistance and high strength, which allows the reduction in wall thickness and weight of pipe fittings. Besides, it can withstand very high flow rates, making it capable to withstand long-term exposure to the elements in almost any environment.
- Cast stainless steel pipe fittings can be used in all types of water, including drinking water in public supply. They have an excellent resistance to the full range of potable waters, including various chloride levels. At the end of its useful life, cast stainless steel is fully recyclable and retains a higher residual scrap value than ordinary cast steel.
- Stainless steel casting of pipe fittings requires low maintenance and does not need an additional coating, in both indoor and outdoor applications. The expected lifetime of a stainless steel pipe fitting is more than 50 years, reducing system down time, replacement and maintenance costs over the life of the installation.
- Last but not the least, stainless steel casting is afforable to produce any type of pipe fittings, and it can produce pipe fittings in both high and small volumes.
Types of Cast Stainless Steel Pipe Fittings
The cast stainless steel pipe fittings are available in several different types for use in different applications such as threaded, flared, without flare and flange adapters. They provide a safe and leak-proof seal for refineries, chemical processing units, power supply units, and different processing lines. They are suitable for high-pressure applications as well as high temperatures, for instance, nuclear industry and petrochemical, etc.
The most commonly used types of cast stainless steel pipe fittings are:
- Tee
- Elbow
- Reducer
- Cross
- Plug and Cap
- Unions
- Flange
- Nipple
- Valves
CFS is the professional stainless steel foundry specializing in stainless steel investment casting for different kinds of pipe fittings. We can customize any type of pipe fittings following your drawing’s specification. At CFS, we guarantee that only the best cast stainless steel pipe fittings are provided and the prices are competitive. Contact us for a free quote today!