- Copper Nickel 90/10 Pipes and Tubes
Copper Nickel 90/10 Pipes and Tubes
90/10 copper-nickel pipe tubes are made with a stainless steel alloy which has a compound of
90% copper and 10% nickel. The 90/10 alloy also contains minor but important additions of iron
and manganese to improve overall strength corrosion resistance.
The copper nickel 90/10 pipe and tubes have nickel and other strengthening materials like
manganese and iron. Alloy copper nickel 09/10 is a lower resistive alloy and can be used up to
300°C temperature. It is used as Cu-Ni pipes have better resistance to erosion, general
corrosion, and corrosion due to impingement.
Chemical composition
| GRADE | Cu | Ni | Fe | Mn | Pb | Zn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cu-Ni 90/10 | MIN | REMAINDER | 9 | 1 | – | – | – |
| MAX | 11 | 1.8 | 1 | 0.05 | 1 |
Production Process
Copper Nickel 90/10 pipes have extra-ordinary strength and thermal balance in high-
temperature environments. Also, it is popularly utilized because it has great corrosion
resistance, especially in saltwater conditions.
Specifications
Cu-Ni 90/10 Seamless Pipe : ASTM B 466/ ASME SB 466
Cu-Ni 90/10 Seamless Tube : ASTM B 467/ ASME SB 467
Cu-Ni 90/10 ERW Pipe : ASTM B 466/ ASME SB 466
Cu-Ni 90/10 ERW Pipe : ASTM B 467/ ASME SB 467
The blend of good ductility retention and thermal conductivity of copper nickel 90/10 tubes at
very low temperatures is beneficial for low-temperature working and storage equipment and
for heat exchangers at cryogenic plants too.
Fabrication and Heat Treatment
Both hot and cold working methods can be used to fabricate copper nickel 90/10 and may be
used for the forming of wrought materials to desired shapes, though the preferred method is
cold working. Hot working temperature range for copper nickel 90/10 is around 800°C to
900°C.
The annealing temperatures for copper nickel 90/10 or UNS C70600 alloys are between 593°C
and 816°C (1100°F and 1500°F). Copper nickel 90/10 has good strength at moderately increased
temperatures and can be welded readily.
Physical properties
| Grade | Density (g/cm3) | Melting Range °C | Elastic Modulus (GPa) | Coeff of Thermal Expansion (μm/m/°C) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K) | Specific Heat (J/Kg.K) | Electrical Resistivity (μΩ.cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-300°C | at 100°C | 0-100°C | |||||
| Cu-Ni 90/10 | 8.94 | 1100-1145 | 140 | 17 | 40 | 377 | 19 |
Properties
Copper nickel 90/10 pipe and tube have got better resistance to stress corrosion cracking due
to ammonia and sulfide ions and to biofouling due to the release of copper ions. This alloy is
also has got resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in calm seawater.
Mechanical Properties
| Grade | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Hardness, MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| [MPA] | [MPA] | HRB | |
| Cu-Ni 90/10 | 260 | 90 | 45 |
Applications of 90/10 copper nickel pipes and tubes
Copper Nickel 90/10 pipes & tubes have excellent resistance to sea water corrosion and better
resistance to erosion corrosion and attacks from air-impingement. Copper nickel 90/10 pipes &
tubes are used in energy production and transforming equipment along with applications in the
pulp and paper industry, petrochemical industry.
Copper nickel 90/10 is widely used in marine services, offshore platform seawater piping,
desalination plants, tidewater power plants, chemical process industries including oil refineries.
Product applications include condenser tubes and plates, tube sheets, distiller tubes, baffles for
condensers and heat exchanger tubes, evaporators, saltwater piping, water boxes, ship hulls,
and hot water tanks.