Carbon iron pipe and galvanized pipe are the two most common types of pipe used to transport liquids and gases. They may look the same, as both are made of steel. However, there is a distinct difference between them. If you are buying from a steel pipe supplier in China and asking which is better, here is a simple guide to differentiate between the quality of black iron pipe and galvanized pipe.
We will compare them through five factors:
Appearance.
corrosion resistance.
Application.
Durability.
Price.
Compared to galvanized tubes, black carbon iron tubes are darker in color. The iron oxide formed during the manufacturing process is responsible for its gray appearance. Due to galvanization, galvanized tubes are silvery white in color. When painted, the zinc coating produces a smoother and higher quality finish.
The main difference between carbon iron pipe and galvanized pipe is their corrosion resistance.
Black iron is manufactured using a low carbon steel compound. It has a low grade of carbon content. By adding carbon, the corrosion resistance of mild steel can be further enhanced.
On the other hand, galvanized pipe is covered with a protective layer of zinc. The process of adding a layer of zinc is called galvanizing, and it gives the pipe the desired properties of higher corrosion resistance. In addition, galvanizing helps prevent the accumulation of mineral deposits that can clog the pipe.
It is well known that carbon iron pipes are easily corroded by water. Therefore3 for many years, galvanized pipe has been used mainly to supply water to the infrastructure. Because of its corrosion resistance, it can also be used in countless outdoor and industrial applications.
The seamless nature of carbon iron pipe makes it the best and safest choice for transporting natural gas and propane gas. It is also used in fire sprinkler systems because it is more fire resistant than galvanized pipe.
While it is true that steel is already a relatively durable material, galvanized pipe has better strength due to its protective zinc coating. The coating takes on the damage rather than the steel itself, which allows the integrity of the galvanized pipe to remain intact, thus extending its life expectancy. Black iron pipe, on the other hand, has no coating and is therefore less durable. Also, water does corrode this type of pipe very easily.
It can be said that black iron pipe is cheaper than galvanized pipe. This is due to the lack of zinc coating. Instead, black iron pipe is covered with iron oxide during the manufacturing process. If you are on a budget and durability is not your main consideration, consider choosing black iron pipe over galvanized pipe.
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