CuNi 90/10 pipe is composed of approximately 90% copper (Cu) and 10% nickel (Ni), with small amounts of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) added to improve overall performance. The 1-1/4" size, approximately 32 mm, is a common medium-diameter specification widely used in medium-flow conveying systems.
This type of pipe is usually manufactured using seamless or welded processes and complies with international standards such as ASTM B466 / ASTM B111, ensuring reliable performance in harsh environments.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Copper (Cu) | Nickel (Ni) | Iron (Fe) | Manganese (Mn) | Lead (Pb) | Carbon (C) |
| Content (%) | Balance, approx. 88.6 | 9.0–11.0 | 1.0–1.8 | 0.5–1.0 | ≤ 0.01 | ≤ 0.05 |
Product Performance Advantages
1. Excellent Seawater Corrosion Resistance
CuNi 90/10 offers outstanding corrosion resistance in seawater and chloride-containing environments. It effectively resists pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking, making it especially suitable for marine engineering applications.
2. Anti-Biofouling Performance
This alloy has natural resistance to marine biofouling, helping reduce fouling buildup on the inner pipe wall and lowering maintenance costs.
3. Good Mechanical Properties
CuNi 90/10 maintains stable performance in both low-temperature and high-temperature environments. It provides good strength and ductility, making it suitable for complex working conditions.
4. Excellent Processing and Welding Performance
CuNi 90/10 is easy to cold work and weld. It can be connected by various methods such as welding, flange connection, and other pipe joining techniques.
5. Long Service Life
In seawater systems, its service life can typically reach more than 20 years, significantly reducing replacement frequency and overall operating costs.
6. Environmentally Friendly and Hygienic
The material is non-toxic and free from harmful heavy metals, meeting hygiene requirements for food, pharmaceutical, and related industries.
Technical Parameters of Copper Nickel Pipe
| Item | Metric / U.S. Standard |
| Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) | 1/4 inch |
| Outside Diameter (OD) | 12.7 mm / 0.500" |
| Wall Thickness / Schedule | Sch 40 / Sch 80 optional, e.g. 0.065" / 0.083" |
| Length | 6 m / 12 m or cut-to-length |
| Condition | Annealed / Half-hard |
| Standards | DIN 86019, DIN EN 12450, ASTM B466 |
| Third-Party Certificates | ABS, DNV, CCS, LR, BV, RINA, KR, optional upon request |
| Connection Methods | Butt welding / Internal welded flange / BSP thread |
| Applicable Temperature | -20℃ to 250℃ |
| Surface Treatment | Pickling, polishing, sandblasting |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Unit | Typical Value |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength / UTS | MPa | 400–460 |
| Yield Strength / YS | MPa | 200–250 |
| Elongation / EL | %0 | ≥ 30 |
| Hardness | HB | 120-150 |
| Impact Strength | J | ≥ 30 |
Physical Properties
| Property | Unit | Typical Value |
| Thermal Conductivity | W/(m·K) | 60–70 |
| Electrical Conductivity | %IACS | 30–35 |
| Linear Expansion Coefficient | ×10⁻⁶/K | 16–18 |
| Density | g/cm³ | 8.9 |
Applications of Copper Nickel Pipe
Shipbuilding and Offshore Platforms：Used for marine seawater cooling pipelines, fire-fighting systems, ballast water systems, and domestic water pipelines.
Seawater Desalination Projects：Used in heat exchangers, evaporators, and pipeline connections in multi-stage flash distillation, MSF, and reverse osmosis, RO, systems.
Coastal Power Plants：Used in condensers and seawater circulation systems.
Petrochemical Industry：Used in heat exchangers and process pipelines for handling brine and chemical media.
Connection Methods of Copper Nickel Pipe
Butt Welding
Socket Welding
Flange Connection
Compression Fittings
Different connection methods can be selected flexibly according to project design requirements to ensure system sealing performance and safety.
Quality Control and Inspection
To ensure product quality, CuNi 90/10 pipes usually undergo the following inspection procedures:
Chemical composition analysis, spectrometer testing
Mechanical property testing, including tensile and hardness tests
Non-destructive testing, including ultrasonic testing and eddy current testing
Hydrostatic pressure testing
Dimensional and visual inspection
Why Choose Our Products?
Precise Dimensional Control
The outside diameter tolerance is strictly controlled within ±0.05 mm. The wall thickness is uniform, ensuring sealing performance and safety when connected with compression fittings and flared fittings.
High Surface Cleanliness
Before delivery, the pipes undergo strict degreasing cleaning and nitrogen purging to meet oxygen service and cleanroom standards.
Full Supply Chain Traceability
Each batch of copper nickel pipe is supplied with a complete material certificate and can be traced back to the melting heat number.
FAQ
Q1: Is CuNi 90/10 pipe suitable for high-temperature applications?
A: Yes. CuNi 90/10 can be used at conventional working temperatures up to 300°C, 572°F, and its high thermal conductivity allows efficient heat dissipation.
Q2: Can the pipe be welded?
A: Yes. It is recommended to use copper nickel alloy welding rods or copper welding rods. The welding temperature should be controlled at 800–900°C, and gas analysis testing should be carried out after welding.
Q3: What are the advantages of CuNi 90/10 compared with stainless steel pipe?
A: CuNi 90/10 provides better corrosion resistance in seawater and chloride-containing environments. In addition, its thermal conductivity is much higher than that of stainless steel, resulting in higher energy efficiency.
Q4: How long is the service life of the pipe?
A: Under normal operating conditions, the service life can reach more than 30 years, depending on the operating environment and maintenance conditions.
Q5: Can you customize special specifications of copper nickel pipe fittings?
A: Yes. We support customized non-standard sizes and specifications according to customer drawings.
Q6: What is the delivery time?
A: Regular specifications can be delivered within 7–15 days, while customized products usually require 15–30 days.
Q7: Which classification societies are your products suitable for?
A: Our products comply with the requirements of major classification societies such as CCS, BV, LR, DNV, and NK.
Note: The product title refers to 1-1/4" CuNi 90/10 Pipe, but the technical parameter table lists NPS 1/4 inch and OD 12.7 mm / 0.500". Please verify whether the intended size is 1-1/4 inch or 1/4 inch before publishing.
