Schedule 40 Steel Pipe: Application, Chemical composition, and dimensions

Schedule 40 steel pipe is the most commonly used and one of the most important pipe schedules. Although it is mostly used in gas and water lines

July 19, 2022

Schedule 40 steel pipe is the most commonly used and one of the most important pipe schedules. Although it is mostly used in gas and water lines, it is also used in places that need support and ornamentation. Schedule 40 steel pipe is a pipe that is known for its supreme performance strength and versatility. This is because the schedule 40 steel pipe is manufactured under great pressure, so you can benefit by using this pipe in your project. SCH or pipe schedule is the measurement of the nominal wall thickness of a steel pipe. In the earlier days, the metal fabricators used 3 pipe dimensions: standard, double extra strong, and extra strong. However, these 3 pipe dimensions were not enough for use. Therefore, steel pipes today have 14 types of schedules, and the most commonly used schedule is schedule 40.

Grades of Schedule 40 pipe

There are different grades for steel pipes, and every grade is subdivided into schedules. A set of standards is included in each schedule that measures the pipe’s thickness. With the increase in the number, the pipe’s thickness also increases. Schedule 40 steel pipe is known for its performance and is one of the versatile pipes coated with layers of zinc in 2 methods- hot-dip galvanization and inline galvanization. The pressure ratings of schedule 40 pipes are known for its high strength and regular grade.

Mild steel is used for manufacturing schedule 40 steel pipe, which includes 0.2% - 0.25% carbon content. To make Schedule 40 pipe, the steel manufacturers use Corrosion-resistant steel galvanization. The most commonly used grade for Schedule 40 steel pipe is the A53 steel pipe.

Schedule 40 steel pipe dimensions

The outside diameter and wall thickness both measures the thickness of a pipe. For instance, an 8th-inch Schedule 40 pipe contains 0.068 wall thickness and 0.405 outside diameter with 0.2 45 weight per foot. A 4-inch schedule 40 steel pipe is one of the common pipes, which comes in 4.5 outside diameter, 0.2375 as wall thickness, and 10.79 as weight per foot.

What is the Chemical Composition of the schedule 40 steel pipes?

Schedule 40 pipe typically refers to the wall thickness and not the grade, so its chemical composition may not be uniform. This pipe schedule is made with the help of low carbon steel, typically using A53 grade steel pipe. This is why its chemical composition can vary. Following are the chemical composition of schedule 40

  • Manganese – 0.95%
  • Nickel – 0.4%
  • Carbon – 0.25%
  • Molybdenum – 0.15%
  • Vanadium – 0.08%
  • Phosphorous – 0.05%
  • Chromium – 0.4%
  • Sulfur – 0.045%

How much does the schedule 40 steel pipe weigh?

The weight of the schedule 40 steel pipe differs according to the size of the pipe. The weight that a schedule 40 steel pipe depends on several factors. Generally, the weight per foot of schedule 40 pipe is 1.68 lbs. There are many advantages of Sch 40 pipe dimensions. For example, they have thin walls, which is best for low water pressure applications. A standard 40 steel pipe with A53 grade and black steel usually has a yield strength of 30,000 psi. The weight of the schedule 40 pipes varies according to the metal used and the nominal wall thickness.

Applications

Hardware stores mostly use Schedule 40 steel pipes, and many DIYers also use this product for doing creative projects. It can be used for making attractive and sturdy shelves, curtain rods, floor lamps, magazine racks, and coat hooks. The primary application of schedule 40 is transporting high-pressure and high-temperature liquids for residential and commercial properties within the gas and oil industry. The price of the schedule 40 steel tribe varies depending on factors such as pipe volume, grade, and length.