Home > Welded Tubes > ASTM B338 / B862
Ultimate corrosion resistance with unmatched strength-to-weight ratio
Titanium is not chosen to save money — it is chosen to eliminate failure. ASTM B338 / B862 titanium welded tubes are specified where stainless steel, duplex, and even nickel alloys struggle to deliver long-term reliability. These tubes combine:
INOX STEEL INDIA supplies project-grade titanium welded tubes engineered for critical service environments.
Titanium welded tubes are manufactured from titanium strip or plate using high-purity inert-gas welding (TIG / Plasma) under controlled environments. The result is a tube with:
Covered by:
Grade 1 — Maximum Formability
Grade 2 — Industry Standard (Most Popular)
Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) — High-Strength Alloy
Grade 7 — Enhanced Crevice Corrosion Resistance
Grade 9 & Grade 12 — Special Purpose Alloys: Grade 9 provides moderate strength and good formability, while Grade 12 offers outstanding resistance in hot brine environments.
Titanium & Titanium Alloy Welded Tubes
| Section | Parameter | Technical Specification — Titanium Welded Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Standards Covered | ASTM B338 | Seamless & welded titanium tubes for condensers & heat exchangers |
| ASTM B862 | Welded titanium & titanium alloy tubes | |
| Material Family | Titanium | Commercially Pure (CP) & Titanium Alloys |
| Available Grades | CP Grades | Gr 1, Gr 2 |
| Alloy Grades | Gr 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Gr 7, Gr 9, Gr 12 | |
| Manufacturing Process | Welding | TIG / Plasma welded |
| Weld Bead | Bead removed / bead rolled | |
| Heat Treatment | Annealed / stress relieved | |
| Dimensional Range | Outside Diameter (OD) | 6 mm – 168.3 mm |
| Wall Thickness (WT) | 0.5 mm – 6.0 mm | |
| Length | 6 m / 12 m / cut-to-length | |
| Mechanical Properties (Typical) | Tensile Strength | Gr 2: ~345 MPa • Gr 5: ~895 MPa |
| Yield Strength | Gr 2: ~275 MPa • Gr 5: ~828 MPa | |
| Elongation | ≥ 20% (grade dependent) | |
| Corrosion Resistance | Seawater | Outstanding (near-absolute) |
| Chlorides | Excellent | |
| Acids | Excellent (oxidizing acids) | |
| Erosion | Excellent | |
| Temperature Capability | Continuous Service | Up to 400°C (grade dependent) |
| Testing Requirements | Mandatory | Hydro / Eddy Current / Dimensional |
| Advanced | PMI, UT, RT (weld), corrosion tests | |
| End Finish | Tube Ends | Plain / Deburred |
| Surface Condition | Pickled / Cleaned / Polished (if required) | |
| Key Advantages | Performance | Highest corrosion resistance per weight |
| Weight | ~45% lighter than steel | |
| Typical Applications | Heat Exchangers | Condensers, evaporators |
| Marine | Seawater cooling systems | |
| Chemical | Chloride & aggressive media | |
| Power | Condenser tubing | |
| Aerospace | Lightweight fluid systems | |
| HSN Code | Titanium Tubes | 81089000 |
| Standard | Scope | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM B338 | Seamless & welded tubes | Condensers, heat exchangers |
| ASTM B862 | Welded tubes only | Process piping, fabricated systems |
Power & Energy
Desalination & Water Treatment
Chemical Processing
Marine & Offshore
Aerospace & High-Tech
Standard OD × WT Range (Heat Exchanger & Process Service)
| Outside Diameter (OD) | Wall Thickness (WT) | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 6 – 12.7 mm | 0.5 – 1.0 mm | Instrumentation, sampling, chemical dosing |
| 12.7 – 25.4 mm | 0.7 – 1.5 mm | Condenser & evaporator tubes |
| 25.4 – 38.1 mm | 1.0 – 2.0 mm | Heat exchangers, cooling systems |
| 38.1 – 60.3 mm | 1.5 – 3.0 mm | Process piping, desalination |
| 60.3 – 168.3 mm | 2.0 – 6.0 mm | Headers, marine & offshore systems |
Lengths: 6 m / 12 m | Cut-to-length as per heat-exchanger drawing. End Finish: Plain • Deburred • Square cut.
| Service Environment | Titanium Performance | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Seawater (ambient & warm) | Outstanding | Self-healing oxide film |
| Chlorides / brine | Excellent | No pitting or SCC |
| MIC (bio-fouling) | Excellent | Inert surface |
| Oxidizing acids | Excellent | Stable oxide layer |
| Erosion / cavitation | Excellent | High surface stability |
Titanium is immune to chloride stress corrosion cracking, a key reason it outperforms SS & duplex in condensers.
Continuous operating temperature: Up to ~400°C (grade-dependent). Maintains mechanical properties under cyclic thermal loads.
Design Advantage: Thinner walls can be used due to corrosion immunity → higher heat transfer efficiency.
Welding Requirements
Fabrication
Heat Treatment
INOX supplies titanium tubes ready for exchanger fabrication.
Mandatory Tests
Advanced / Project Tests
Certification: EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2, third-party inspection available (TÃœV / BV / DNV).
| Property | 316L SS | Duplex 2205 | Titanium Gr 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | High | High | Low (–45%) |
| Seawater corrosion | Moderate | Very good | Excellent |
| SCC resistance | Moderate | High | Immune |
| Fouling resistance | Medium | Medium | Very high |
| Service life | 10–15 yrs | 15–20 yrs | 30–40+ yrs |
| Requirement | Recommended Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| General condenser tubing | Grade 2 | Industry standard |
| Chemical processing | Grade 1 / 7 | High corrosion resistance |
| High strength / lightweight | Grade 5 | Structural performance |
| Hot brine / chloride | Grade 12 | Enhanced resistance |
| Grade | Indicative Price (INR/kg) | Indicative Price (USD/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | ₹ 2,200 – 3,200 | $26 – $38 |
| Grade 2 | ₹ 2,400 – 3,500 | $28 – $42 |
| Grade 5 | ₹ 3,800 – 5,800 | $46 – $70 |
| Grade 7 / 12 | ₹ 3,000 – 4,800 | $36 – $58 |
| Condition | Application |
|---|---|
| Pickled & cleaned | Condensers, heat exchangers |
| Bright cleaned | High-purity systems |
| Bead-rolled ID | Improved flow & fouling resistance |
1. Ultra-Clean Welding Environment
2. Condenser & Heat-Exchanger Expertise
3. Metallurgy Control by Grade
4. EPC & Export-Ready Supply
Power & Energy
Desalination & Water
Chemical Processing
Marine & Offshore
Aerospace & High-Tech
Standard Packaging
Export Packaging
Documentation Included
52-A, Mulji Thackersi Bldg, Islampura Street, Shop No. 10, Near Alankar Cinema, Mumbai – 400 004
steel@inoxsteelindia.in
+91 9930796690
B338 covers seamless & welded tubes; B862 covers welded titanium tubes only. Titanium is immune to seawater corrosion and has a very long service life. Grade 2 is the most widely used for heat exchangers and condensers. Yes—BV, DNV, TUV available. What is the difference between ASTM B338 and B862?
Why use titanium for condensers?
Which titanium grade is most commonly used?
Do you provide third-party inspection?
INOX STEEL INDIA supplies ASTM B338 and ASTM B862 titanium welded tubes in Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 7 and Grade 12. Ideal for heat exchangers, condensers, desalination, marine and chemical applications. EN 10204 certified, export ready.