TITANIUM TUBE & PIPE TECHNICAL RESOURCE
ASTM B338 Titanium Tube & Pipe Specification
ASTM B338 is an important specification used when sourcing titanium and titanium-alloy tubing for industrial applications. For buyers and engineers, the standard designation alone is not a complete purchasing specification. Material grade, dimensions, wall thickness, tolerance requirements, surface condition, testing, certification and quantity should also be defined in the purchase order or RFQ.
What Does ASTM B338 Cover?
ASTM B338 addresses seamless and welded titanium and titanium-alloy tubes intended for applications such as heat exchangers, condensers and other industrial service. The required material grade and tube condition should be specified according to the design, fabrication environment and service conditions.
Common Titanium Grades for Tube Supply
| Grade | General Description | Typical Purchasing Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Commercially pure titanium with high ductility. | Selected where formability and corrosion resistance are important. |
| Grade 2 | Commercially pure titanium widely used for industrial tubing. | Common choice for corrosion-resistant process and heat-transfer equipment. |
| Grade 7 | Palladium-alloyed commercially pure titanium. | Used where enhanced corrosion resistance is required. |
| Grade 9 | Ti-3Al-2.5V titanium alloy. | Selected where higher strength than commercially pure grades is required. |
| Grade 12 | Titanium alloy containing nickel and molybdenum. | Considered for specific corrosion and temperature service conditions. |
ASTM B338 Tube Dimensions
A tube inquiry should clearly identify the outside diameter, wall thickness and required length. Dimensional tolerances can affect manufacturing route, inspection requirements, availability and cost. Buyers should therefore avoid sending only a nominal tube size when the application requires controlled dimensions.
Information to Specify
Typical dimensional information includes outside diameter, wall thickness, straight length or cut length, dimensional tolerance and quantity. Where the tube will be used in a heat exchanger or condenser, additional fabrication requirements may also need to be identified.
Surface Condition and Cleanliness
Surface condition should be agreed before production. Depending on the application, the buyer may need to specify requirements for internal and external surface quality, cleanliness, finishing and protection during packing and transportation.
Testing, MTR and Traceability
The required inspection and testing scope should be defined by the applicable standard, purchase specification and project requirements. Material certification should identify the supplied grade and relevant test results. Where required, heat or lot traceability should be maintained from material records through finished tube identification.
For procurement projects requiring documentation, request the required Mill Test Report (MTR), certification level, inspection records and any project-specific documentation at the RFQ stage.
ASTM B338 vs ASTM B861 and ASTM B862
ASTM B338, ASTM B861 and ASTM B862 are related to titanium tubular products, but they should not automatically be treated as interchangeable purchasing standards. The correct specification depends on the product form, manufacturing route and project requirements.
When preparing an inquiry, specify the exact ASTM standard stated by the engineering drawing, equipment specification or approved material requirement.
How to Specify ASTM B338 Titanium Tube
A practical RFQ should include the ASTM specification, titanium grade, outside diameter, wall thickness, length, quantity, surface condition, testing requirements, documentation requirements and delivery destination. Additional dimensional or inspection requirements should be included where applicable.
Example RFQ Information
| Standard | ASTM B338 |
|---|---|
| Material | Titanium Grade 2 |
| Dimensions | Outside diameter × wall thickness × length |
| Quantity | Pieces, total length or project quantity |
| Surface | Specify required surface condition |
| Documentation | MTR / certification / inspection requirements |
Related Titanium Resources
Need ASTM B338 Titanium Tube?
Send your ASTM specification, titanium grade, diameter, wall thickness, length, quantity and certification requirements to EST Metal for review.
Need Welded Titanium Pipe?
For welded titanium pipe procurement requirements, see ASTM B862 Titanium Welded Pipe Specification. For seamless pipe, see ASTM B861 Titanium Pipe Specification.