Ultra-Thin Wall Stainless Steel Coil Tube (0.3 mm – 0.5 mm)
Product Overview
The Ultra-Thin Wall Stainless Steel Coil Tube (also referred to as Coil Tube or Coil Pipe) is a precision-engineered continuous tube product supplied in coiled form. Manufactured by Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials Co., Ltd., this product falls within the geometric parameter category of product specifications, specifically classified under the ultra-thin wall series. With wall thicknesses ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, this tube represents the most demanding tier of stainless steel tubing in terms of dimensional control, mechanical integrity, and processing complexity.
The coil delivery format enables seamless downstream processing through automated forming, bending, and cutting systems, making it ideal for high-volume manufacturing environments where continuous feedstock is required.
Material & Properties
Ultra-thin wall stainless steel coil tubes are typically fabricated from austenitic stainless steel grades such as SUS304, SUS304L, SUS316, and SUS316L, which offer an optimal balance of corrosion resistance, formability, and thermal performance. The thin-walled geometry imparts the following distinctive material characteristics:
- Lightweight Construction: The reduced wall thickness significantly decreases the mass per unit length, offering substantial weight savings compared to standard-wall tubing. This is particularly advantageous in weight-sensitive applications such as aerospace components, automotive heat exchangers, and portable medical devices.
- High Thermal Conductivity: The minimal wall thickness facilitates rapid heat transfer across the tube wall, making these tubes exceptionally efficient for applications involving thermal exchange, fluid heating, and cooling circuits.
- High Surface-to-Volume Ratio: The geometry provides an enhanced surface area relative to the internal volume, improving heat dissipation rates and fluid dynamics performance.
- Low Thermal Mass: Enables rapid temperature response times, beneficial in dynamic thermal management systems.
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification / Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Stainless Steel Coil Tube (盘管) | Continuous coil delivery format |
| Wall Thickness Series | Ultra-Thin Wall (超薄壁) | Most demanding geometric tier |
| Wall Thickness Range | 0.3 mm – 0.5 mm | ± 10% dimensional tolerance (typical) |
| Outer Diameter Range | Variable (customizable) | Typically 3 mm – 50 mm OD for this wall class |
| Material Grades | SUS304, SUS304L, SUS316, SUS316L | Austenitic stainless steel |
| Surface Finish | Bright Annealed (BA), No. 4 Brushed, Mirror | As specified per customer requirement |
| Delivery Form | Coiled (Coil Tube) | Continuous length, wound on coil spool |
| Key Performance Attributes | Lightweight; High Thermal Conductivity | Primary design advantages |
| Processing Challenges | High manufacturing difficulty; Prone to collapse/buckling (易瘪) | Requires specialized forming technology |
| Standards Compliance | ASTM A554, ASTM A269, GB/T 12771, JIS G3446 | Depending on market requirement |
Manufacturing Process
The production of ultra-thin wall stainless steel coil tubes involves a highly controlled multi-stage manufacturing sequence. The elevated processing difficulty—primarily stemming from the susceptibility of thin-walled geometry to collapse (瘪, buckling) during forming—is addressed through specialized equipment and process parameters:
- Strip Preparation: Cold-rolled stainless steel strip is precision-cut to exact width and thickness. The strip must exhibit uniform thickness across its full width to prevent localized thinning or buckling during tube forming.
- Tube Forming (Seam Welding): The strip is wound around a mandrel and longitudinally seam-welded using resistance welding (ERW), induction welding, or laser welding. For wall thicknesses below 0.5 mm, laser welding is often preferred due to its minimal heat-affected zone (HAZ), which reduces distortion and preserves dimensional accuracy.
- Inline Annealing: A controlled annealing cycle relieves residual stresses introduced during forming and welding, restoring ductility and preventing micro-cracking in the thin wall.
- Pickling and Passivation: The coil is subjected to acid pickling to remove oxide scale, followed by passivation to restore the chromium-rich passive film essential for corrosion resistance.
- Dimensional Inspection: Automated laser or ultrasonic thickness gauges verify wall thickness uniformity along the coil length. Roundness and straightness are checked to ensure the tube will not exhibit ovality or collapse during downstream forming.
- Coiling and Packaging: The finished tube is wound onto a coil spool under controlled tension to prevent inter-coil contact damage. Protective wrapping is applied to prevent mechanical damage and surface contamination.
Process Note: The critical challenge in ultra-thin wall tube manufacturing is maintaining geometric stability. Wall thicknesses of 0.3 mm – 0.5 mm are highly susceptible to collapse during bending, expansion, or crimping operations. This necessitates precise control of bending radii, the use of internal mandrels or plug-assisted forming, and strict adherence to minimum bend radius ratios (typically ≥ 5D for free bending).
Applications
The unique combination of lightweight construction, high thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance makes ultra-thin wall stainless steel coil tubes suitable for a diverse range of engineering applications:
- Heat Exchangers and Radiators: Automotive radiators, oil coolers, intercoolers, and HVAC heat exchanger cores where thin walls maximize heat transfer surface area while minimizing weight and fluid volume.
- Medical Devices: Endoscope tubing, catheter housings, and surgical instrument shafts where lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and biocompatible materials are required.
- Aerospace Components: Fuel lines, hydraulic tubing, and thermal management systems where weight reduction is critical to flight performance.
- Food and Beverage Processing: Sanitary fluid transfer lines, brewing equipment tubing, and pasteurization systems where corrosion resistance and cleanability are paramount.
- Electronics Cooling: Miniaturized heat pipes, vapor chamber components, and thermal management structures for consumer electronics and power electronics.
- Chemical Processing: Reactor tubing, distillation columns, and process piping where aggressive chemical environments demand austenitic stainless steel resistance.
- Medical Gas Delivery: Hospital-grade oxygen and medical gas tubing systems requiring certified sanitary-grade materials.
Quality Certifications
Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials Co., Ltd. maintains rigorous quality management systems to ensure product conformity and traceability:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System certification ensuring consistent product quality and continuous improvement.
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System certification demonstrating commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing.
- CE Marking – Conformity with European Union directives for products intended for the European market.
- Mill Test Certificates (MTC): Full material certification including chemical composition analysis, mechanical property verification, and dimensional inspection data provided with each shipment.
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Ultrasonic testing (UT) and eddy current testing (ECT) for weld seam integrity verification, particularly critical for thin-wall applications where internal defects are difficult to detect visually.
- Hydrostatic Testing: Pressure testing to verify leak-tightness and structural integrity of the tube at specified test pressures.
All production batches undergo multi-stage quality control checkpoints, including incoming raw material verification, in-process dimensional monitoring, and final product inspection prior to coiling and dispatch. This ensures that the ultra-thin wall tubes meet the stringent dimensional tolerances and mechanical performance requirements demanded by end-use applications.