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The copper tube is composed of 99.9% pure copper and minor alloying elements and meets the published standards of ASTM.They come in hard and soft varieties, the latter meaning the tube has been annealed to soften it.The rigid tubes are connected by capillary fittings.Hoses can be connected in a number of other ways, including compression fittings and flares.Both are produced as seamless structures.Copper pipes are used in plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, medical gas delivery, compressed air systems and cryogenic systems.In addition to ordinary copper pipes, special alloy pipes are also available.
The terminology for copper pipes is somewhat inconsistent.When a product is formed into a coil, it is sometimes referred to as copper tubing because it adds flexibility and the ability to bend the material more easily.But this distinction is by no means a generally practiced or accepted distinction.In addition, some hard-walled straight copper pipes are sometimes referred to as copper pipes.The use of these terms may vary from supplier to supplier.
The tubes are all similar except for the difference in wall thickness, with the K-tube having the thickest walls and therefore the highest pressure rating.These tubes are nominally 1/8″ smaller than outside diameter and are available in straight tube sizes from 1/4″ to 12″, both drawn (hard) and annealed (soft).Two thick wall tubes can also be coiled to 2″ nominal diameter.The three types are color-coded by the manufacturer, green for K, blue for L, and red for M.
Types K and L are suitable for pressurized services, such as the use of air compressors and the delivery of natural gas and LPG (K for underground, L for interior).All three types are suitable for domestic water (Type M preferred), handling fuel and fuel oil (Type L, preferred), HVAC applications (Type L, preferred), vacuum units, and more.
Tubing for drainage, waste and venting applications is thin walled and has a lower pressure rating.It is available in nominal sizes from 1-1/4 to 8 inches and in color coded yellow.It is available in 20-foot drawn straight lengths, but shorter lengths are usually stocked.
Tubes used to transfer medical gases are type K or type L with special cleanliness requirements.The oil used to make the tubes must be removed to prevent them from burning in the presence of oxygen and to ensure the health of the patient.Tubes are usually plugged and capped after cleaning and brazed under a nitrogen purge during installation.
Tubes used for air conditioning and refrigeration are designated by actual OD, which is an exception in this group.Dimensions range from 3/8 to 4-1/8 inches for straight lengths and 1/8 to 1-5/8 inches for coils.As a whole, these tubes have a higher pressure rating for the same diameter.
Copper tubes are available in a variety of alloys for special applications.Beryllium copper tubing can approach the strength of steel alloy tubing, and its fatigue resistance makes it particularly useful in special applications, such as for Bourdon tubes.The copper-nickel alloy is highly resistant to seawater corrosion, and the tubing is often used in marine applications where resistance to barnacle growth is an added benefit.Cupro Nickel 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 are common names for this material.OFHC or oxygen-free high-conductivity copper tubes are commonly used for waveguides and the like.Titanium clad copper tubing can be used in corrosive heat exchanger applications.
As mentioned earlier, copper pipes are easily joined using heating methods such as welding and brazing.While these methods are adequate and convenient for applications such as domestic water, heating does anneal the drawn tube, which reduces its pressure rating.There are several mechanical methods available that do not alter the tube properties.These include flare fittings, roll groove fittings, crimp fittings and push fittings.These mechanical attachment methods are very convenient in situations where the use of flames or heating is not safe.Another advantage is that some of these mechanical joints are easy to remove.
Another method, used in situations where many branches must emerge from a single main pipe, is to use an extrusion tool to create the outlet directly in the pipe.This method requires brazing of the final connection, but does not require the use of many fittings.
This article summarizes the types of copper pipes.For more information on other products, please review our other guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform to find potential sources of supply or to view specific product details.
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