Non-Ferrous Metals Tubes
Tubes are hollow sections specified by exact outside diameter and wall thickness, with tighter tolerances than pipe. They're used for heat exchangers, boilers, instrumentation, hydraulics and mechanical parts, where precise dimensions and surface quality matter.
Choose a grade below for specifications, composition, sizes and weight charts.
Non-Ferrous Metals tubes by grade
| Grade | Specification | Key characteristic | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium Grade 1 Tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 | Lowest-strength, most formable CP titanium | Plate heat-exchanger plates |
| Titanium Grade 2 Tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 | Most widely used CP titanium | Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes |
| Titanium Grade 3 Tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 | Higher strength than Grade 2 | Pressure vessels and heat-exchanger shells |
| Titanium Grade 4 Tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 | Highest-strength CP titanium | Airframe and aero-engine components |
| Titanium Grade 5 Tubes | ASTM B338 / ASME SB338 | Ti-6Al-4V alpha-beta alloy | Aerospace structures and engine parts |
| Cupro-Nickel 90/10 Tubes | ASTM B111 / ASME SB111 | Standard for seawater piping | Ship and offshore seawater piping |
| Cupro-Nickel 70/30 Tubes | ASTM B111 / ASME SB111 | About 30% nickel | Power-station condenser tubes |
| Copper Tubes | ASTM B75 / B88 / B280 | Highest conductivity of common metals | Heat-exchanger and condenser tubes |
| Brass Tubes | ASTM B111 / B135 | Admiralty brass for condenser tubes | Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes |
| Aluminium Tubes | ASTM B210 / B241 | About ⅓ of the density of steel | Marine hulls and superstructures (5083) |
How non-ferrous metals tubes are made, sized and tested
How it's madeSeamless tubes are hot-extruded or pierced and then cold-drawn or pilgered to size. Welded tubes are formed from strip, welded (TIG/laser/HF), bead-worked and drawn or sized. Heat-exchanger and boiler tubes are annealed after final forming, and U-tubes are bent and stress-relieved as required.
- Size range
- OD 3 mm to about 127 mm (¼" to 5") typical, wall 0.5 mm to 12 mm; BWG or mm; straight lengths up to about 30 m, U-bent to drawing
- Finish
- Annealed & pickled, bright annealed (BA), polished (sanitary), cold-drawn
- Ends
- Plain square-cut, deburred; U-bends with stress-relieved bends on request
Testing & documents
- Eddy-current and/or ultrasonic testing on each tube
- Hydrostatic or pneumatic test
- Flattening, flaring and flange tests
- Grain size (H grades), IGC and hardness when specified
- Surface roughness (Ra) for sanitary and instrumentation tube
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pipe and a tube?
Pipes are ordered by nominal size and schedule for carrying fluids. Tubes are ordered by exact OD and wall thickness, with tighter tolerances, for heat transfer, instrumentation and structural uses.
What is BWG?
Birmingham Wire Gauge, a traditional system for tube wall thickness. Higher numbers are thinner walls (for example 16 BWG = 1.65 mm).
Which non-ferrous metals grades are available as tubes?
Titanium Grade 1, Titanium Grade 2, Titanium Grade 3, Titanium Grade 4, Titanium Grade 5, Cupro-Nickel 90/10, Cupro-Nickel 70/30, Copper, Brass, Aluminium.
Which specifications cover non-ferrous metals tubes?
ASTM B338, ASTM B111, ASTM B75, ASTM B210, depending on grade.
Need non-ferrous metals tubes?
Send grade, size, quantity and destination.