Cuni Pipe Applications
A Cuni Pipe has a wide range of applications in manufacturing and industry, specifically in shipbuilding, chemical industry, electric power condenser tubes, and in air conditioning applications. However, these pipes are extensively used in shipbuilding and marine hardware because of the superior corrosion resistance exhibited by the copper-nickel alloy.
Properties Of Copper-Nickel Alloy Used To Make a Cuni Pipe
Copper and copper alloys are a key raw material used to make flat stamped and deep draw products due to the impeccable properties of copper. Moreover, copper’s excellent thermal and electrical properties can be augmented by alloying it with other metals. Copper is non-bacterial, resistant to sparks, and it is also non-magnetic.
In addition, copper has low reactivity, making it ideal for applications where corrosion is likely to occur. Most copper alloys have excellent thermal performance, with good fatigue resistance and medium strength.
Copper’s conductivity of BTU/ (hr-ft- deg F) of 231 exceeds that of steel by 30 times. Also, it has a high melting temperature (1981ºF) and density of 8.94g/cm3.
Cuni pipes are made from an alloy of copper and nickel (cupronickel). The alloy can be anything between 69 percent and 96 percent copper. In most cases, it is 90 percent copper and 10 percent nickel but can also be 70 to 30, depending on specific application. The alloy may be further strengthened by a third metal in very small percentages, usually 0.5 percent.
Cuni Pipe Use In Marine applications
The choice of cupronickel as the primary metal for use in marine hardware underscores the impeccable properties of the copper alloy, particularly its high resistance to seawater corrosion. Also, it is resistant to galvanic corrosion when used close to other metals. There’s a wide range of copper-nickel products used in different applications. These pipes and cuni pipe fittings are some of the most used metal alloy products in industrial, shipbuilding, and manufacturing processes.
Typical applications where cupronickel alloy is used include the following:
Tubing used in condensers
Water pipes carrying seawater to cooling systems, fire mains, and toilet systems in ships
Marine hardware such as crankshafts, fasteners, and hulls
Medical equipment, cutlery, and some jewellery
Casing for wooden piles
Fencing erected underwater.