The difference between industrial stainless steel pipes and sanitary stainless steel pipes

In both industrial and civilian fields, stainless steel pipes are widely used due to their excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and ease of processing. However, depending on the usage environment and requirements, stainless steel pipes are divided into two categories: industrial stainless steel pipes and sanitary stainless steel pipes. There are significant differences between the two in terms of material, purpose, surface treatment, testing standards, and price.

Industrial stainless steel pipe

1、 Material and chemical element requirements

Industrial stainless steel pipe: Its chemical element requirements are relatively loose, and various stainless steel materials can be used according to different temperature and corrosion resistance requirements. The selection of these materials is mainly based on meeting the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance requirements in industrial production.

Sanitary stainless steel pipes: There are strict regulations on the content of major elements such as chromium, nickel, sulfur, and carbon to ensure their excellent corrosion resistance and sanitary performance. The commonly used materials include American standard 316 or 316L (DIN standard 1.4434, etc.) and 304 stainless steel. The selection of these materials is aimed at meeting the high hygiene standards of industries such as food and medicine.

2、 Usage and Performance

Industrial stainless steel pipes: widely used in industries such as petroleum, chemical, power, construction, transportation, etc. They have high requirements for the pressure resistance and corrosion resistance of pipelines, and can withstand high temperatures, high pressures, and harsh working environments. In addition, industrial stainless steel pipes also have good wear resistance, fatigue resistance, and long service life characteristics.

Sanitary stainless steel pipes: mainly used in industries such as food, medicine, and biotechnology. These industries have extremely high requirements for the hygiene performance of pipelines, requiring smooth inner walls, no impurities, and easy cleaning. Sanitary stainless steel pipes not only have strong corrosion resistance, but also have a smooth surface that is not easy to breed bacteria, meeting modern hygiene standards. Its high strength and rigidity also ensure good working performance under high pressure.

3、 Surface treatment

Industrial stainless steel pipes: Their surface treatment requirements are relatively low, usually treated by acid washing, sandblasting and other methods to achieve certain cleanliness and roughness requirements. These processing methods can meet the general needs in industrial production.

Sanitary stainless steel pipes: Both the inner and outer surfaces need to be polished to achieve a mirror effect. This high standard surface treatment can ensure the cleanliness and smoothness of the inner wall of the pipeline, thereby reducing fluid resistance in the pipeline and improving production efficiency. In addition, the mesh size of the inner wall of sanitary stainless steel pipes should reach around 0.4 μ m to meet the requirements of high cleanliness.

4、 Testing standards

Industrial stainless steel pipes: Their testing standards are mainly based on the technical requirements of the manufacturer and are relatively loose. These standards aim to ensure that industrial stainless steel pipes meet the basic performance requirements in industrial production.

Sanitary stainless steel pipes: Their testing standards are stricter and need to comply with relevant national and industry standards. For example, for food grade stainless steel pipes, they need to comply with relevant standards such as GB/T 12771-2017 "Metallic Materials and Articles for Food Contact". These standards impose strict requirements on the material, performance, surface treatment, and other aspects of sanitary stainless steel pipes.

5、 Price

Due to the higher requirements for material, surface treatment, and testing standards of sanitary stainless steel pipes compared to industrial stainless steel pipes, their prices are usually higher. This price difference reflects the differences in production costs and added value between the two.

There are significant differences between industrial stainless steel pipes and sanitary stainless steel pipes in terms of material, purpose, surface treatment, testing standards, and price. When choosing stainless steel pipes, reasonable selection should be made based on specific usage environments and requirements to ensure that they meet actual needs and achieve optimal performance.