ASTM A179 & ASME SA179 Carbon Steel Pipes – Seamless Cold-Drawn Small-Bore Pipe
ASC LLP, Mumbai, supplies ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 carbon steel pipe. This is seamless, cold-drawn, low-carbon steel pipe in standard pipe sizes from NPS ⅛” to 2½” (up to 3″ OD), in SCH 40, SCH 80 and heavier walls, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. For heat-exchanger tubes ordered by OD × BWG, see our SA179 seamless tubes page.
What is ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Pipe?
ASTM A179 (ASME SA179) covers seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel for heat exchangers, condensers and similar heat-transfer equipment, in outside diameters from ⅛” to 3″ (3.2 – 76.2 mm). When this material is supplied in pipe dimensions (NPS OD with schedule walls to ASME B36.10M), buyers call it A179 pipe or SA179 carbon steel pipe. It is a soft, ductile, low-carbon steel, heat-treated after the final cold draw. That makes it easy to bend into coils, expand and weld.
Because the specification stops at 3″ OD, A179 pipe is only made in small bore – up to NPS 2½” (73.0 mm OD). For NPS 3″ and larger, or for general process and pressure piping, the usual choice is ASTM A106 Grade B or A53 Grade B pipe.
A179 / SA179 Pipe – Quick Facts
- Specification: ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 (general requirements ASTM A450)
- Type: seamless, cold drawn, heat-treated at 650 °C (1200 °F) or higher after the final draw
- Pipe sizes: NPS ⅛” – 2½” (OD 10.3 – 73.0 mm); SCH 40, 80, 160, XXS or specified wall
- Hardness: 72 HRB max.
- Material: low-carbon steel, C 0.06 – 0.18%, Mn 0.27 – 0.63%
- Certificate: EN 10204 3.1; third-party inspection on request
Properties of A179 Carbon Steel Pipe
- Soft and ductile: 72 HRB maximum, so the pipe can be cold-bent into coils and U-bends and expanded into tube sheets without cracking.
- Good heat transfer: plain low-carbon steel conducts heat well (about 50 W/m·K).
- Seamless and cold drawn: no weld seam, close dimensions and a clean, smooth bore.
- Easy to weld: low carbon (0.18% max.) needs no special preheat.
- Limits: plain carbon steel is not corrosion-resistant and is not a high-temperature alloy – coat or line it, or choose another grade, for corrosive or very hot service.
When to Use A179 Pipe – and When Not To
- Use A179 / SA179 pipe for small-bore heat-transfer service: heating and cooling coils, condenser and cooler lines, jacket and tracing lines, and heat-exchanger connections where the drawing calls for SA179.
- Use A106 Gr B pipe for process and steam piping, high-temperature lines and any size above NPS 2½”.
- Use A53 Gr B pipe for general utility and low-pressure piping, including ERW and galvanised.
- Use SA179 tubes (OD × BWG) for shell-and-tube heat-exchanger bundles – see SA179 seamless tubes.
ASTM A179 Pipe Size, Schedule & Weight Chart (NPS ⅛” – 2½”)
| NPS | OD (mm) | SCH 40 wall (mm) | SCH 80 wall (mm) | SCH 160 wall (mm) | XXS wall (mm) | SCH 40 kg/m | SCH 80 kg/m |
| ⅛” | 10.29 | 1.73 | 2.41 | – | – | 0.37 | 0.47 |
| ¼” | 13.72 | 2.24 | 3.02 | – | – | 0.63 | 0.80 |
| ⅜” | 17.15 | 2.31 | 3.20 | – | – | 0.85 | 1.10 |
| ½” | 21.34 | 2.77 | 3.73 | 4.78 | 7.47 | 1.27 | 1.62 |
| ¾” | 26.67 | 2.87 | 3.91 | 5.56 | 7.82 | 1.68 | 2.19 |
| 1″ | 33.40 | 3.38 | 4.55 | 6.35 | 9.09 | 2.50 | 3.24 |
| 1¼” | 42.16 | 3.56 | 4.85 | 6.35 | 9.70 | 3.39 | 4.46 |
| 1½” | 48.26 | 3.68 | 5.08 | 7.14 | 10.15 | 4.05 | 5.41 |
| 2″ | 60.33 | 3.91 | 5.54 | 8.74 | 11.07 | 5.44 | 7.49 |
| 2½” | 73.03 | 5.16 | 7.01 | 9.53 | 14.02 | 8.64 | 11.41 |
Pipe dimensions per ASME B36.10M; weights are plain-end values for carbon steel. A179 covers OD up to 3″ (76.2 mm), so NPS 3″ (88.9 mm OD) and larger are not available in A179 – use A106 B instead. Heavy walls (SCH 160, XXS) are subject to mill availability. Other walls, metric sizes and cut lengths on request.
Mechanical Properties of A179 Carbon Steel Pipe
| Property | ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 |
| Hardness (acceptance test) | 72 HRB max. |
| Tensile strength (design value) | 325 MPa (47 ksi) min. |
| Yield strength (design value) | 180 MPa (26 ksi) min. |
| Elongation in 50 mm (design value) | 35% min. |
| Flattening & flaring tests | Required, 2 pieces per lot |
ASTM A179 lists tensile values for design purposes; the acceptance tests are hardness, flattening and flaring.
ASTM A179 / SA179 Pipe Specifications
| Item | Details |
| Specification | ASTM A179 / ASME SA179; general requirements ASTM A450 / SA450 |
| Type | Seamless, cold drawn |
| Size | NPS ⅛” – 2½” (pipe OD); OD × wall up to 3″ OD on request |
| Wall | SCH 40, 80, 160, XXS, or specified average / minimum wall |
| Heat treatment | 650 °C (1200 °F) or higher after the final cold draw |
| Length | Random lengths about 5 – 7 m, or fixed cut lengths |
| Ends | Plain end (square cut); bevelled on request |
| Testing | Hydrostatic or NDE (eddy current) on each length; hardness, flattening, flaring |
| Surface | Scale-free; bare, varnished or oiled; end caps |
| Certificate | EN 10204 3.1; 3.2 / third-party inspection on request |
A179 Carbon Steel Pipe Chemical Composition
| Element | ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 (%) |
| Carbon (C) | 0.06 – 0.18 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.27 – 0.63 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.035 max. |
| Sulphur (S) | 0.035 max. |
| Other elements | Not permitted to be added |
A179 Pipe vs A106 B vs A53 B
| Item | ASTM A179 pipe | ASTM A106 Gr B pipe | ASTM A53 Gr B pipe |
| Type | Seamless, cold drawn | Seamless | Seamless or ERW |
| Size range | Up to 3″ OD (NPS ≤ 2½”) | NPS ⅛” – 48″ | NPS ⅛” – 26″ |
| Carbon | 0.06 – 0.18% | 0.30% max. | 0.30% max. |
| Strength (MPa) | 325 / 180 (design values) | 415 / 240 min. | 415 / 240 min. |
| Hardness | 72 HRB max. | Not specified | Not specified |
| Main use | Heat-transfer coils, condenser lines | Process & high-temperature piping | General utility piping |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value (approx.) |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Thermal conductivity | ≈ 50 W/m·K |
| Modulus of elasticity | ≈ 200 GPa |
| Specific heat | ≈ 0.48 J/g·K |
Applications of ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Pipes
| Industry | Typical A179 / SA179 pipe applications |
| Heat exchangers & condensers | Small-bore connections, coils and condenser lines |
| Tanks & reactors | Steam heating coils and cooling coils |
| Process plants | Steam tracing, jacketed lines, oil and gas coolers |
| HVAC & refrigeration | Chiller, cooler and compressor intercooler lines |
For boiler tubes, use SA192 instead; for welded heat-exchanger tubes see SA214. More on our heat-exchanger products page.
Why Buy A179 / SA179 Pipe from ASC LLP?
- Correct specification and size: genuine A179 / SA179 seamless cold-drawn pipe, offered only in the sizes the specification covers.
- Certified material: EN 10204 3.1 certificates with chemistry, hardness and test results.
- Pipe and tube: NPS pipe on this page; heat-exchanger tubes in OD × BWG on our SA179 tubes page.
- Full carbon steel range: A106 B and A53 B pipe for larger sizes, plus carbon steel tubes.
Send NPS, schedule, length and quantity to sales@amardeepsteel.com, call 022-67439130 or contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions – ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Pipe
What is ASTM A179 carbon steel pipe?
ASTM A179 (ASME SA179) carbon steel pipe is seamless, cold-drawn low-carbon steel supplied in pipe sizes (NPS with schedule walls). The specification covers outside diameters from 1/8″ to 3″ and is intended for heat exchangers, condensers and similar heat-transfer service.
What sizes are available in A179 pipe?
Because ASTM A179 covers OD up to 3″ (76.2 mm), A179 pipe is available from NPS 1/8″ to NPS 2-1/2″ (73.0 mm OD) in SCH 40, SCH 80 and heavier walls. NPS 3″ and larger are not covered by A179.
What is the difference between A179 and A106 pipe?
A179 is a low-carbon (0.06–0.18% C), soft, cold-drawn seamless material for heat-transfer service, limited to 3″ OD. A106 Grade B is seamless carbon steel pipe for process and high-temperature piping from NPS 1/8″ to 48″, with higher minimum strength (415/240 MPa).
What is the hardness of SA179 pipe?
The maximum hardness of ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 is 72 HRB. This low hardness makes the pipe easy to bend into coils and expand into tube sheets.
What is the chemical composition of A179 pipe?
ASTM A179 contains carbon 0.06–0.18%, manganese 0.27–0.63%, phosphorus 0.035% max. and sulphur 0.035% max. No other alloying elements may be added.
Is A179 the same as SA179?
Yes. ASME SA179 is the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code version of ASTM A179, with the same technical requirements. Most material is dual-certified to both.
Global Reach
ASC LLP supplies carbon steel pipes, tubes and fittings to fabricators and process plants in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with secure packing and full documentation. Buyers worldwide rely on our ASTM A179 and ASME SA179 carbon steel pipes for certified material and traceability.
Countries We Export To
UNITED STATES, EUROPE, UK, UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, KUWAIT, JORDAN, QATAR, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, SPAIN, ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY, BAHRAIN, SRI LANKA, AZERBAIJAN, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, PHILIPPINES, TURKEY, RUSSIA, IRAN, IRAQ, CANADA, KOREA, JAPAN, YEMEN, FINLAND, ZIMBABWE, HUNGARY, PORTUGAL, VIETNAM, MOROCCO, THAILAND, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SINGAPORE, GREECE, KUWAIT, POLAND, NEW ZEALAND, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, BELGIUM, BHUTAN, BANGLADESH, TAIWAN, ROMANIA, CAMBODIA, KAZAKHSTAN, AFGHANISTAN.
