High-precision Tube Rolling: Analysis of Production Process, Core Advantages, and Application Fields

 

High-precision rolled tubes are precision steel tube materials manufactured through cold drawing or hot rolling processes. With their excellent dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and high-strength characteristics, they have become the core materials in high-end manufacturing fields such as the automotive, energy, and aerospace industries. The following is a comprehensive analysis of their production process, core advantages, and industry applications.

 

Production Process: Six Steps to Achieve High Precision and High Strength

 

1. Surface Pretreatment

The oxide layer on the surface of the steel tube is removed through pickling. Subsequently, phosphating and saponification treatments are carried out to form a lubricating film, providing an ideal surface condition for the subsequent cold drawing process.

 

2. First Cold Drawing and Forming

A hydraulic drawing machine is used in conjunction with a precision die to cause plastic deformation of the steel tube, initially improving the dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength.

 

3. Heat Treatment for Performance Optimization

Normalizing or quenching and tempering treatments are carried out to eliminate the microstructural defects generated during cold drawing, significantly improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of the steel tube, such as elongation and impact toughness.

 

4. Second Cold Drawing for Strengthening

Cold drawing is carried out again on the basis of heat treatment to further reduce the dimensional tolerance. At the same time, the surface quality and material density are improved through cold deformation strengthening.

 

5. Stress Relieving Annealing

Annealing treatment is carried out at the crystallization temperature to eliminate the residual stress, ensuring the dimensional stability of the steel tube during subsequent use and avoiding the risk of deformation.

 

6. Finishing and Inspection

A press is used to straighten the straightness of the steel tube, and high-precision equipment such as a laser diameter gauge is used to monitor the dimensions in real time (the tolerance can be controlled within ±0.05mm), ensuring that the geometric accuracy and surface finish of the finished product reach the micron-level standard.

 

Core Advantages: Meeting Stringent Industrial Requirements

- Ultra-high Precision: The outer diameter tolerance is ±0.05mm, and the wall thickness tolerance is ±0.1mm, meeting the micron-level processing requirements of fields such as aerospace and medical devices.

- Excellent Strength: Through the synergistic effect of cold deformation and heat treatment, the tensile strength is increased by more than 30%. At the same time, it has excellent pressure resistance and fatigue resistance.

- Zero Surface Defects: The inner and outer walls are smooth without an oxide layer and can be directly used in precision hydraulic systems and high-cleanliness environments.

- Long Service Life Design: The corrosion resistance and wear resistance are improved, and the service life is extended by 50% - 80% under harsh working conditions such as in the petrochemical and shipbuilding industries.

 

Application Fields: Driving the Upgrade of High-end Manufacturing

1. Automotive and Transportation

It is used to manufacture high-pressure oil pipes, drive shafts, and engine cylinders, improving fuel efficiency and safety performance.

2. Petrochemical Industry

As the core material for high-pressure pipes and reactor linings, it can withstand acidic media and high-temperature environments, ensuring production safety.

3. Aerospace

It is applied to key components such as aircraft hydraulic systems and rocket engine casings, meeting the stability requirements under extreme temperatures and pressures.

4. Energy Equipment

In the cooling systems of nuclear power plants and boiler pipes, it replaces traditional materials, improving the ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures and the energy conversion efficiency.

5. Precision Instruments

It is used for precision structural parts of medical imaging equipment and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, ensuring high cleanliness and dimensional stability.

 

Future Trends: Technological Innovation and Green Production

With the popularization of 5G and artificial intelligence technologies, high-precision rolled tubes are being upgraded to intelligent manufacturing. For example, real-time monitoring of the production process is achieved through the Internet of Things technology, and the nitrogen-hydrogen mixed gas protection annealing process is used to reduce carbon emissions. It is estimated that by 2025, the global demand for such materials in the high-end manufacturing industry will increase by 40%. Especially in the fields of new energy equipment and green chemical industry, high-precision rolled tubes will become the core materials driving industrial upgrading.