There are many materials and types of steel pipes on the market today, and carbon steel pipes and galvanized steel pipes are two of the more common ones. So, what are the differences between carbon steel pipes and galvanized steel pipes?

Carbon steel pipe vs Galvanized steel pipe:

1. Different production process 

Carbon steel pipes are made of steel ingots or solid round steels that are perforated to form capillary tubes, and then made by hot and cold rolling and cold drawing. Carbon steel pipe has a key position in the domestic steel pipe field.

Galvanized steel pipes use hot-dip galvanizing. The galvanized steel pipe should be tested for the balance of the galvanized layer.

2. Different materials

Carbon steel pipe is an alloy material mainly containing carbon and iron. It has excellent mechanical properties and processing properties, but poor corrosion resistance. It is often used in pipelines for conveying fluids or gases.
Galvanized steel pipe is a kind of pipe that has been electrochemically treated and coated with a layer of zinc on the surface of the steel pipe, which mainly increases the corrosion resistance of the pipe. Therefore, the material of the galvanized pipe is carbon steel, stainless steel and other metal materials.

3. Surface treatment

Carbon steel pipes are not surface treated or only coated with grease, and are susceptible to external oxidation and corrosion, so their service life is limited.
Galvanized steel pipe is coated with a layer of zinc on the surface of the steel pipe, and the galvanized layer is formed by electroplating and other technologies. This method can not only prevent oxidation and corrosion, but also improve the wear resistance and aesthetics of the pipe.

4. Performance characteristics

1) Corrosion resistance

The corrosion resistance of carbon steel pipe is relatively weak. If it is used as a pipeline for transporting corrosive substances, it is easy to be corroded and cracks will appear, which will affect the service life of the pipeline.
As a kind of anti-corrosion pipe, galvanized steel pipe has excellent corrosion resistance, especially in humid and corrosive areas, it is more suitable for use.

2) Strength

Carbon steel pipes have high strength, so they are often used in places with high pressure, such as oil production pipelines in oil fields, support structures for high-rise buildings and bridges, etc.
The strength of galvanized steel pipe is relatively poor, but because of its advantages of corrosion resistance and rust resistance, it is suitable for some occasions with low demand.

5. Scope of application

Both carbon steel pipes and galvanized pipes are commonly used metal pipes, but due to their different properties and uses, the scope of application is also different.
Carbon steel pipes are suitable for transporting gases or fluids and are subject to high pressure; while galvanized pipes are mainly used for damp and corrosive places, such as petrochemical, chemical, shipbuilding and marine development, etc. .

To sum up, the difference between carbon steel pipe and galvanized steel pipe lies in the manufacturing process, material, surface treatment and performance characteristics. When selecting a pipeline, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the specific usage scenarios and required performance characteristics.