Aluminum Pipe Fittings | ASTM B361 Welding Fittings

Standard Specification & Production Forms

The aluminum pipe fittings usually refer to factory-made wrought aluminum and aluminum-alloy welding fittings conforming to standard specification ASTM B361. The term “welding fittings” applies to butt-welding or socket-end-welding parts. It includes a variety of fitting types such as 90° & 45° elbow, 180° return bend, reducer, tee, cross, cap, and other types made to the dimensional requirements specified by ASME B16.9 and ASME B16.11.

Material & Manufacture

Aluminum alloy 6061 butt-welding pipe fittings supplied to Europe.

The ASTM B361 welding fittings can be made from a series of aluminum and aluminum-alloy materials in the form of rod, bar, forging, sheet, plate, seamless pipe or tube. These materials include several commercially pure aluminum grades and Al-Mg, Al-Mn, Al-Mg-Mn, Al-Mg-Si alloys: 1060, 1100, 3003, Alclad 3003, 5083, 5086, 5154, 6061, and 6063. They can be furnished in various temper designations according to buyer’s requirement. The final aluminum pipe fitting shall be manufactured by an operation of hammering, pressing, forging, piercing, rolling, extruding, upsetting, bending, fusion welding, machining, or by a combination of two or more of these forming operations.

Properties & Advantages

Aluminum pipe fittings made to ASTM B361 have versatile striking characteristics. The aluminum or aluminum alloy is light in weight with a density of only 2.7 g/cm3. It displays excellent corrosion resistance in most environments, including atmosphere, water (including salt water), petrochemicals, and many chemical systems. Aluminum typically displays excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. It is nonferromagnetic, a property of importance in the electrical and electronics industries. It is nonpyrophoric, which is important in applications involving inflammable or explosive-materials handling or exposure. Aluminum is also nontoxic and is routinely used in containers for foods and beverages. It has an attractive appearance in its natural finish, which can be soft and lustrous or bright and shiny. It can be virtually any color or texture. Some aluminum alloys exceed structural steel in strength. However, pure aluminum and certain aluminum alloys are noted for extremely low strength and hardness. Generally, aluminum pipe fittings can be used with the lower temperature limit of -269°C [-425°F] and the upper temperature limit of 204°C [400°F].