Importance of stainless steel flanges in industries
The stainless steel flanges, in the various types (flat, blind, with step, etc.), can be divided into two macro-categories, which differ in their production process: investment casting and forging. Slip on flanges manufacturers in India provides all types of flanges worldwide.
Investment Casting:
Investment casting is the production treatment that takes place through the casting of liquid steel in a disposable mould; this method allows the creation of even more complex shapes and components thanks to the molds above with defined shapes.
The molten steel is poured into molds positioned in sequence, ensuring uniform filling until the desired shape is achieved. After cooling, the shell of the mold is broken to obtain the raw product.
In the case in question, the raw flange will be subjected to various processes, annealing, turning and finishing, obtaining the finished product ready for assembly. The advantages of flanges produced through investment casting are the low cost deriving from mass production and the total uniformity of the finished product.
Forging:
In the case of stainless steel flanges, the forging process is carried out by plastic deformation of the steel itself. A steel round or plate is overheated until it reaches a temperature higher than the recrystallization temperature so that it can be worked using presses to obtain a hot forging of the product (alloy).
The forging will lead to obtaining blanks that will require further processing to obtain flanges which, in terms of dimensions and characteristics, fall under the EN or ASME standards. Compared to investment casting, steel never passes from the liquid state, which allows the material's original structure to be maintained so that the finished product will be more resistant to high pressures and subject to mechanical processing.
Forged flanges are, therefore, more resistant, but the longer and more complex manufacturing process makes them less convenient than their precision cast "sisters". An excellent solution for constructing pipes and manifolds in stainless steel involves free sliding flanges to avoid the orientation of the bolt holes, which occurs with overlapping welded flanges.
The positioning of the valves, or components present along the pipeline, can be oriented by rotating the free flanges until the coupling is obtained. The molded flanges, in particular, under their shape, allow for a lightening of the joint.
The forged flange uses flanges to be welded (EN1092-1 TYPE 33 standard), identical to those generally used with free aluminium flanges and EN1092-1 TYPE 01A sliding flat flanges. Stainless steel flanges manufacturers in India include pressed flanges for ISO size flares, with PN 16 drilling from DN 15 to DN 200 and flanges with PN 10 drilling from DN 200 to DN 500.
Alloy Steel Flanges manufacturers in India have shown that the peculiarity of the pressed flanges consists in the optimal coupling with the sealing gasket placed between the flanges; the correct tightening of the bolts allows a homogeneous seal of the gasket due to the uniform crushing along the entire diameter of the same.
For all these reasons, A105 Flange manufacturer represents the best option for the realization of the piping pre-assembled in the workshop and assembled on site.