Low-Temperature Seamless Pipe
Seamless pipes with guaranteed notch toughness at −45°C and below — ASTM A333 Gr.1/3/6/7 and EN 10216-3 equivalents. For LNG, cold-region pipelines, and gas processing in the world’s coldest climates.
ASTM A333 Gr.1/3/6/7
EN 10216-3
Impact −45°C
GB/T 18984
Low-Temperature Seamless Pipe
Low-temperature service demands steel that stays tough when it matters: at −45°C and below, ordinary carbon steel loses impact toughness and fails brittlely. CREATEEL supplies seamless low-temperature pipe to ASTM A333 Gr.1 / Gr.6 / Gr.3 / Gr.7 with EN 10216-3, GB/T 18984 and JIS G3460 equivalents — every heat Charpy impact-tested at the specified minimum temperature and certified with EN 10204 3.1.
- OD Range: 10.2mm – 720mm (1/4″ – 36″)
- Wall Thickness: 1.65mm – 60mm (SCH 5S – XXS)
- Grade: A333 Gr.1/3/6/7 · P215NL, P265NL · 16MnDG, 09MnNiDG
- Length: SRL 3–7m, DRL 6–18m, custom cut lengths
- Standard: ASTM A333, EN 10216-3, GB/T 18984, JIS G3460
Technical Specifications
Standards
Low-temperature seamless pipe standards and grades supplied by CREATEEL.
| Standard | Available Steel Grades | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM A333 | Gr.1, Gr.3, Gr.6, Gr.7, Gr.9 | Standard specification for seamless steel pipe for low-temperature service and other applications with required notch toughness |
| EN 10216-3 | P215NL, P265NL, P275NL | European standard for seamless steel tubes for pressure purposes at specified low temperatures |
| GB/T 18984 | 16MnDG, 10MnDG, 09MnNiDG | Chinese national standard for seamless steel pipes for low-temperature service |
| JIS G3460 | STPL380, STPL450 | Japanese standard for carbon steel pipes for low-temperature service |
Seamless Low-Temperature Pipe Dimensions (OD × Wall Thickness, NPS)
Wall thickness in mm per ASME B36.10M, for A333 Gr.1/3/6/7/9/GB 18984 seamless pipe, service to −196°C. – = not a standard schedule for that size.
| DN | NPS (in) | OD (mm) | SCH10 | SCH20 | STD | SCH40 | XS | SCH80 | SCH160 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1/2 | 21.3 | 1.65 | – | 2.77 | 2.77 | 3.73 | 3.73 | 4.78 |
| 20 | 3/4 | 26.7 | 2.11 | – | 2.87 | 2.87 | 3.91 | 3.91 | 5.56 |
| 25 | 1 | 33.4 | 2.77 | – | 3.38 | 3.38 | 4.55 | 4.55 | 6.35 |
| 32 | 1-1/4 | 42.2 | 2.77 | – | 3.56 | 3.56 | 4.85 | 4.85 | 6.35 |
| 40 | 1-1/2 | 48.3 | 2.77 | – | 3.68 | 3.68 | 5.08 | 5.08 | 7.14 |
| 50 | 2 | 60.3 | 2.77 | – | 3.91 | 3.91 | 5.54 | 5.54 | 8.74 |
| 65 | 2-1/2 | 73.0 | 3.05 | – | 5.16 | 5.16 | 7.01 | 7.01 | 9.53 |
| 80 | 3 | 88.9 | 3.05 | – | 5.49 | 5.49 | 7.62 | 7.62 | 11.13 |
| 100 | 4 | 114.3 | 3.05 | – | 6.02 | 6.02 | 8.56 | 8.56 | 13.49 |
| 125 | 5 | 141.3 | 3.4 | – | 6.55 | 6.55 | 9.53 | 9.53 | 15.88 |
| 150 | 6 | 168.3 | 3.4 | – | 7.11 | 7.11 | 10.97 | 10.97 | 18.26 |
| 200 | 8 | 219.1 | 3.76 | 6.35 | 8.18 | 8.18 | 12.7 | 18.26 | 23.01 |
| 250 | 10 | 273.0 | 4.19 | 6.35 | 9.27 | 15.09 | 12.7 | 20.62 | 28.26 |
| 300 | 12 | 323.9 | 4.57 | 6.35 | 9.53 | 14.27 | 12.7 | 21.44 | 33.32 |
| 350 | 14 | 355.6 | 4.78 | 7.92 | 9.53 | – | 12.7 | 23.83 | – |
| 400 | 16 | 406.4 | 4.78 | 7.92 | 9.53 | – | 12.7 | 21.44 | – |
| 450 | 18 | 457.0 | 4.78 | 7.92 | 9.53 | – | 12.7 | 23.83 | – |
| 500 | 20 | 508.0 | 4.78 | 7.92 | 9.53 | – | 12.7 | 20.62 | – |
| 600 | 24 | 610.0 | – | – | 9.53 | – | 12.7 | 17.02 | – |
Chemical Composition (%)
Ladle analysis per heat; restricted chemistries available for sour-service combinations.
| Grade | C max | Mn | Ni | P max | S max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A333 Gr.1 | 0.30 | 0.40–1.06 | — | 0.025 | 0.025 |
| A333 Gr.6 | 0.30 | 0.29–1.06 | — | 0.025 | 0.025 |
| A333 Gr.3 | 0.19 | 0.31–0.64 | 3.18–3.82 | 0.025 | 0.025 |
| A333 Gr.7 | 0.19 | ≤0.90 | 2.03–2.57 | 0.025 | 0.025 |
Mechanical Properties & Impact
Minimum values at room temperature; Charpy V-notch impact tested at the specified minimum temperature.
| Grade | Tensile (MPa) | Yield (MPa) | Elong. (%) | Impact Test Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gr.1 | ≥380 | ≥205 | ≥35 | −45°C |
| Gr.6 | ≥415 | ≥240 | ≥30 | −45°C |
| Gr.3 | ≥450 | ≥240 | ≥30 | −100°C |
| Gr.7 | ≥450 | ≥240 | ≥30 | −75°C |
Impact Testing
Notch toughness is the defining requirement of A333 — every heat is verified.
Charpy V-Notch (CVN)
Three-specimen CVN tests per ASTM A370 / E23 at or below the specified minimum temperature; acceptance per A333 energy requirements.
Test Temperature
Gr.1 / Gr.6 verified at −45°C; Gr.7 at −75°C; Gr.3 at −100°C. Lower test temperatures available to project specification.
Heat Treatment
Normalized, normalized + tempered, or double-normalized as required by grade and wall — condition stated on the MTC.
Witness Testing
Third-party witness of impact testing (SGS / BV / TÜV) available on request.
Testing & Certification
Quality assurance applied to every low-temperature seamless order.
Hydrostatic Test
Every length pressure-tested per ASTM A333 or purchaser requirement.
Ultrasonic Examination
100% ultrasonic testing of body and ends; eddy current testing for small-diameter sizes.
Certification
EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate standard with impact results; 3.2 third-party certification on request.
Documentation
Impact test charts, heat traceability, and coating records compiled per project dossier requirements.
Manufacturing Process
Our seamless steel pipes are manufactured through a rigorously controlled 12-step hot rolling process — from billet heating to final inspection — ensuring uniform mechanical properties, precise dimensions, and defect-free surfaces.
Billet Inspection & Cutting
Continuous-cast round billets are ultrasonically tested for internal defects, then cut to required lengths by abrasive sawing or shearing.
Rotary Hearth Heating
Billets are heated uniformly to 1200–1280°C in a rotary hearth furnace to achieve optimal plasticity for piercing while preventing overheating or decarburization.
Mannesmann Piercing
The heated billet is pierced over a pointed mandrel between two skewed rolls to form a hollow shell (mother tube), typically achieving a 3–4:1 elongation ratio.
Mandrel Mill Rolling
The hollow shell is rolled over a retained mandrel through a 5–8 stand continuous mandrel mill to reduce wall thickness and achieve uniform OD/WT dimensions.
Mandrel Extraction & Reheating
The mandrel is stripped from the shell; the shell is then reheated to ~950°C in an induction furnace before entering the stretch-reducing mill.
Stretch Reducing / Sizing
The pipe passes through 20–24 stands of stretch-reducing mill to achieve the final OD with tight tolerance (±0.5% OD) and uniform wall thickness, without an internal mandrel.
Cooling Bed Cooling
Pipes are transferred to a walking-beam cooling bed for slow, uniform air cooling to prevent bending and residual stress buildup.
Hot/Cold Straightening
Pipes are straightened by multi-roll cross-roll straighteners (6-roll or 10-roll) to achieve straightness ≤1 mm/m and eliminate ovality.
Cutting & End Facing
Pipes are cut to commercial lengths (5.8m/6m/11.8m/random) and both ends are faced and beveled (30°+5°) for welding, with burrs removed.
NDT & Hydrostatic Testing
100% ultrasonic testing for wall thickness and laminations, eddy current testing for surface cracks, and hydrostatic pressure testing to API/GB standards.
Surface Inspection & Marking
Visual and dimensional inspection of OD, WT, length, and surface quality; stenciling grade, heat number, OD×WT, standard, and manufacturer mark.
Final Packaging & Shipping
Pipes are bundled with steel strips, end-protected with plastic caps or bevel protectors, slung with lifting tags, and loaded for shipment with mill test certificates.
Applications
Where guaranteed low-temperature toughness keeps critical systems safe.
LNG & Cryogenic Gas Processing
Piping for liquefaction, storage, and regasification facilities handling refrigerated hydrocarbons.
✓ Gr.3 / Gr.7
Cold-Region Pipelines
Transmission and gathering lines in Siberia, Northern China, Canada, and Scandinavia — designed for −45°C and below.
✓ Gr.1 / Gr.6
Gas Processing & Sweetening
Wellhead and plant piping where winter design temperatures govern material selection.
✓ Gr.6 + CVN
Low-Temperature Chemical Service
Refrigerated chemical loops and heat-transfer circuits in petrochemical complexes.
✓ EN 10216-3
Air Separation & Industrial Gases
Piping for oxygen, nitrogen, and argon plants operating at cryogenic-adjacent temperatures.
✓ Gr.3
Refrigerated Storage & Vessels
Piping interconnects for refrigerated ammonia, LPG, and CO₂ storage systems.
✓ Impact certified
Frequently Asked Questions
What is low-temperature (LTCS) pipe and when is it required?＋
Low-temperature carbon steel pipe — ASTM A333 — is Charpy impact-tested at −45°C or below to guarantee notch toughness. It is required wherever design temperatures drop below the toughness limit of ordinary carbon steel (typically −29°C for A106).
What is the difference between A333 Gr.6 and Gr.3?＋
Gr.6 is impact-tested carbon steel for −45°C service and is the volume workhorse. Gr.3 adds 3.5% nickel for toughness down to −100°C in LNG and cryogenic service.
How is impact toughness verified?＋
Every heat is Charpy V-notch tested (three specimens) at or below the specified minimum temperature, meeting the energy requirements of ASTM A333 — results reported on the mill test certificate.
What sizes and lengths are available?＋
OD 10.2–720 mm, wall 1.65–60 mm. SRL 3–7 m, DRL 6–18 m, custom cut lengths, and spool prefabrication on request.
What certificates and testing come with the order?＋
EN 10204 3.1 MTC with impact results and heat traceability; hydrostatic and 100% UT as standard; 3.2 third-party inspection (SGS / BV / TÜV) on request.
What is the MOQ and lead time?＋
5–10 tons per size. Stock grades ship in 7 days; produced sizes in 4–8 weeks depending on specification.
Ready to Order Low-Temperature Seamless Pipes?
Get competitive pricing on ASTM A333 Gr.1 / Gr.6 / Gr.3 seamless pipes with guaranteed −45°C impact results. MTC and third-party inspection welcome.
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