Malleable iron pipe fittings have been used for decades in industrial and commercial piping systems due to their strength, durability and reliability. Understanding the key benefits of malleable iron fittings can help you determine if they are the right choice for your pipe network.
What Are Malleable Iron Pipe Fittings?
Malleable iron fittings are made from iron that has been alloyed with carbon to increase its malleability. This allows the material to be bent and shaped without developing cracks like standard cast or ductile iron.
Malleable iron pipe fittings are as manufactured through a heating and cooling process. Meanwhile, transforms the iron into a fine grained, malleable metal. The fittings can then be easily threaded, bent and formed to create angled pipes, tees, crosses and other junctions.
Advantages Of Malleable Iron Pipe Fittings
- High Strength – Properly heat treated malleable iron offers compressive strength 4 to 5 times greater than standard carbon steel pipe fitting. This allows malleable fittings to handle higher pressures in piping systems.
- Resistance to Impact – Malleable iron’s ductility and toughness makes it more resistant to impact forces compared to cast or ductile iron. The fittings are less prone to fracturing from impacts and impulse events.
- Ease of Installation – Malleable iron fittings can be bent and formed at the installation site to shape elbows, crosses and other junctions to fit piping routes. This flexibility simplifies complex piping layouts.
- Corrosion Resistance – The malleable iron material along with surface coatings provide corrosion resistance in a range of environments from pH 3 to pH 12. The fittings can handle exposure to water, soil, chemicals and other corrosive media.
- Durability and Long Service Life – Properly manufactured malleable iron pipe fitting can last for decades in piping systems. This is because their strength, toughness and corrosion resistance properties.
- Compatibility – Malleable iron fitting is compatible with multiple pipe materials including steel, copper, brass and other types. They offer installers a versatile joining solution.
Malleable Iron Fitting Applications
Due to their benefits, malleable iron pipe fitting is as used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, including:
- Plumbing systems – In residential, commercial and industrial plumbing to connect steel, copper or plastic pipes.
- Shipbuilding – For high-pressure hydraulic piping systems and seawater piping onboard ships and offshore structures.
- Petrochemical plants – To connect pipes transporting oil, gas, chemicals and other fluids in refineries and processing facilities.
- HVAC systems – To join copper tubing in commercial and industrial heating, cooling and ventilation pipe networks.
- Pulp and paper mills – For pneumatic, hydraulic and vapor piping systems where strength and durability are critical.