ASTM A179 U-Bend Tube — Cold-Drawn Seamless Low-Carbon Steel Tubing for Heat Exchangers

Material

ASTM A179 U-bend tubes are seamless, cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes that are formed into a U-shape for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers, coolers, and similar heat-transfer equipment. The base tube is produced by the seamless process and cold drawing, then bent to the required radius/leg length with strict control of dimensional stability and surface condition.

Specification

• Product type: U-bend (U-tube) for heat exchangers

• Base material / standard: ASTM A179 / A179M (often referenced as SA179 for similar procurement language)

• Manufacturing route: Seamless → cold drawn → U-bending (per drawing)

• Typical base tube OD range (ASTM A179 scope): 1/8" to 3" (3.2–76.2 mm)

• Key U-bend parameters (customized):

  • Bend radius (CLR), leg length, tangent length, straight length, end finish

  • Controlled ovality and wall thinning at the bend (measured and reportable)

Key Features

• Excellent heat-transfer suitability: smooth OD/ID, consistent wall, stable geometry from cold-drawn tubing

• Reliable forming performance: low-carbon chemistry supports bending, expanding, and rolling operations commonly required for tube-to-tubesheet assembly

• Quality verification: chemistry control + mechanical testing + typical tube tests (e.g., hardness/flattening/flaring/hydrostatic or NDT options per order)

Our Advantages 

1. How do you control wall thinning and ovality at the U-bend?
   We control bending tooling, lubrication, and forming parameters, and can provide bend-area measurements (ovality and wall-thinning). Many buyers specify limits (e.g., ovality and thinning caps) for U-tubes; we can manufacture and inspect to your project criteria and supply inspection records.

2. What inspections and documentation will I receive?
   We provide full traceability by heat/lot and Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1 available upon request), plus compliance with required tests under ASTM tube requirements (chemical/product analysis and mechanical verification; hydrostatic or nondestructive testing when specified).

3. How do you prevent contamination and shipping damage (critical for heat exchangers)?
   We follow controlled finishing and packing practices (cutting/deburring/cleaning, end caps/sealing, and export packing) to protect tube ends and internal cleanliness during transport and storage.

Chemical Composition

Note: “—” indicates not specified in the cited summaries for that grade.

Mechanical Properties (5 Reference Grades)

Standards 

• ASTM: ASTM A179/A179M (base tube) + ASTM A450/A450M (general requirements for carbon/low alloy steel tubes)

• EN: EN 10216-2 (pressure-purpose seamless tubes with elevated temperature properties; e.g., P235GH)

• GOST: GOST 8733 (technical requirements for cold-deformed seamless pipes) + GOST 8734 (size range for cold-formed seamless tubes)

• JIS: JIS G 3461 (carbon steel boiler & heat exchanger tubes; e.g., STB340)

• GB: GB/T 3639 (seamless cold-drawn/cold-rolled precision tubes) and project-driven selections such as GB 3087 for boiler service, when specified

Application Areas

• Power generation & boilers: condensers, feedwater heaters, economizers (U-tube bundles)

• Oil & gas / refining: coolers, condensers, heat-recovery exchangers

• Chemical & petrochemical: process heat exchangers, surface coolers
  U-bend geometry is used primarily in shell-and-tube exchangers to enable compact multi-pass flow paths and efficient bundle layout.

Q: Are you trading company or manufacturer ?

A: manufacturer,also can do trading.

Q: How long is your delivery time?

A: Generally speaking,it is 10-15 days if the goods are in stock,or it is 30-40 days if the goods are not in stock,

it is according to quantity.

Q: Do you provide samples? is it free or extra ?

A: Yes, we could offer the sample for free charge but need pay the cost of freight.

Q: What is your terms of payment ?

A: Payment<=2000USD, 100% in advance. Payment>=2000USD, 30% T/T in advance ,balance before shippment.

If you have another question, pls feel free to contact with me.