USA Piping Solution is a Copper Nickel 90/10 pipes and tubes supplier in the USA, stocking UNS C70600 material in seamless construction to ASTM B466 and ASTM B111, and welded construction to ASTM B467. We hold both forms in stock, including condenser and heat-exchanger tube, seawater piping, and general engineering pipe, cut to your drawing with full mill certification and material traceability on every shipment. Seamless gives you the tighter wall tolerance a shell-and-tube condenser or tube-sheet joint requires; welded gives you the same UNS C70600 corrosion resistance at a more efficient cost for seawater mains and larger-bore runs. Both forms are covered in full detail below; for the wider Copper Nickel range, including 70/30 alloy, plate, flange and fitting options, see our Copper Nickel Pipes & Tubes category page.
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Copper Nickel 90/10 Specifications
One alloy, two construction methods, three governing standards. Here's how they break down:
| Specification | Seamless | Welded |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ASTM B466 (general engineering) / ASTM B111 (condenser & heat-exchanger tube) | ASTM B467 |
| ASME equivalent | SB466 / SB111 | SB467 |
| UNS | C70600 | C70600 |
| DIN / EN | CuNi10Fe1Mn, Werkstoff Nr. 2.0872 | CuNi10Fe1Mn, Werkstoff Nr. 2.0872 |
| BS | CN102 | CN102 |
| Process | Hot-extruded or pierced from cast billet, cold-worked and annealed | ERW (electric resistance welded) or EFW (electric fusion welded) |
| Weld seam | None | Present, 100% hydrotested |
| Typical form | Tube (condenser, heat-exchanger, hydraulic, instrumentation) and pipe | Pipe (seawater mains, process piping) and welded tube for larger diameters |
| Temper | O60 soft annealed, H55 light drawn, H80 hard drawn, HE80 hard drawn & end-annealed | As agreed per order |
Need the full range beyond pipe and tube? Our Copper Nickel Flanges page covers fittings and flanges in the same alloy.
Chemical Composition
UNS C70600 chemistry is identical regardless of whether the finished product is seamless or welded; the standards govern the forming process, not the alloy:
| Element | Composition | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 88.6% min (remainder) | Base metal: carries the alloy's thermal conductivity and workability |
| Nickel (Ni) | 9.0 - 11.0% | The primary driver of resistance to seawater corrosion and biofouling |
| Iron (Fe) | 1.0 - 1.8% | Improves resistance to erosion-corrosion in high-velocity seawater |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0% max | Supports deoxidation and hot-working behavior during extrusion |
| Lead (Pb) | 0.05% max | Held low to preserve hot-working quality and weld integrity |
| Zinc (Zn) | 1.0% max | Residual element from copper refining, controlled to a tight ceiling |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.323 lb/in3 (8.94 g/cm3) at 68 deg F |
| Melting point | 2260 deg F (1238 deg C) |
| Tensile strength | 50,000 psi min (345 MPa) |
| Yield strength (0.2% offset) | 20,000 psi min (138 MPa) |
| Elongation | 30% min |
These values apply to the standard annealed condition. Drawn tempers carry higher strength and lower elongation. Tell us your specified temper when you send your order and we'll confirm the exact figures.
Seamless vs Welded: Which Do You Need?
Both start from the same C70600 alloy, so the decision isn't about corrosion resistance; it's about where the pipe or tube sits in your system.
| Property | Seamless (ASTM B466 / B111) | Welded (ASTM B467) |
|---|---|---|
| Weld seam | None | Present, 100% hydrotested |
| OD tolerance | Tighter, suited to expanded tube-sheet joints | Standard pipe tolerance |
| Typical use | Condenser & heat-exchanger tube bundles, tight-tolerance fabrication | Seawater mains, ballast lines, larger-bore piping |
| Relative cost | Higher | Typically lower, especially at larger diameters |
Choose Seamless When
Choose seamless (ASTM B466/B111) when the tube terminates in a rolled tube-sheet joint, as it does in most shell-and-tube Condenser Tubes and Boiler & Heat Exchanger Tubes. The absence of a weld seam gives a more consistent wall thickness around the tube's circumference, which is exactly what an expanded joint depends on. It's also the safer default in chloride-heavy seawater service, since a weld seam is a metallurgically distinct zone that can become a preferential site for pitting over time.
Choose Welded When
Choose welded (ASTM B467) for seawater mains, ballast lines, firewater systems, and larger-bore process runs that don't touch a tubesheet. Welding scales more efficiently than piercing or extrusion once you move past small and mid-range diameters, and every weld seam is 100% hydrotested before it ships, so you get a fully pressure-verified joint at a lower installed cost. For condenser and heat-exchanger tube specifically, the seamless guidance above applies instead.
Not Sure Which Construction You Need? Send Us Your Drawing
Types of Pipe & Tube We Supply
We stock both constructions across the forms marine, power, and process buyers actually specify:
- ASTM B111 Condenser & Heat-Exchanger Tube (Seamless): the workhorse form for shell-and-tube bundles in power and desalination plants.
- U-Bend Tube (Seamless): pre-formed for U-tube exchanger bundles, to the bend radius your drawing calls for.
- Capillary & Instrumentation Tube (Seamless): small-bore, tight-tolerance tube for control and sensing lines.
- ERW / EFW Pipe (Welded): the standard route for straight-run seawater and process piping.
- Spiral Welded Pipe (Welded): for large-diameter runs where spiral forming is the more efficient production method.
- Large-Diameter Fabricated Pipe (Welded): rolled and welded to size for bores beyond standard mill tube stock.
Applications
Cu-Ni 90/10's seawater resistance and weldable, formable base metal puts both constructions to work across:
- Marine & Shipbuilding: seawater piping, hull fittings, propeller shaft sleeves
- Offshore Oil & Gas: cooling water and utility systems on platforms and FPSOs
- Power Generation: condenser and feedwater heater tube bundles, balance-of-plant piping
- Desalination: evaporator and heat-recovery tube bundles in MSF/MED plants
- Food & Beverage / Sugar Processing: evaporator and heat-exchanger tube where corrosion resistance and formability matter
See our Condenser Tubes and Boiler & Heat Exchanger Tubes pages for more on tube-bundle applications. For high-velocity seawater condenser duty at a lower cost than copper-nickel, the step below is aluminium brass; see our Aluminium Brass Condenser Tubes C68700 page.
Testing & Certification
Every heat is tested to the requirements of its governing standard. Seamless tube and pipe are checked by positive material identification (PMI), hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure testing, eddy-current inspection, and flattening/flare tests as applicable. Welded pipe carries the same PMI and hydrostatic testing, plus 100% testing of the weld seam itself, with ultrasonic (UT) or radiographic (RT) inspection available where your project specification calls for it. Mill test certification and full material traceability are issued with every order.
Sizes & Availability
Cu-Ni 90/10 seamless tube and pipe covers the OD and wall-thickness range set out in ASTM B466 and B111, from small-bore condenser tube up through general-engineering pipe. Welded pipe extends further, into the larger diameters where ERW, EFW, and spiral-welded construction are the more practical production route. Send us your OD, wall thickness, and length requirement and we'll confirm current mill availability and lead time against your drawing.
Related Products
- Copper Nickel 70/30 Pipes & Tubes
- Copper Nickel Flanges
- Aluminium Brass Condenser Tubes C68700
- Condenser Tubes
- Heat Exchanger Tubes & Pipes
- Boiler & Heat Exchanger Tubes
- Copper Nickel Pipes & Tubes
Have a spec sheet or drawing ready? Send it to our team and we'll confirm construction, availability, lead time, and pricing on Cu-Ni 90/10 pipe or tube cut to your exact requirement.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between ASTM B466, B111, and B467 for Copper Nickel 90/10?
B466 covers general-purpose seamless copper-nickel pipe and tube. B111 is written specifically for seamless condenser and heat-exchanger tube, including ferrule stock. If your project spec calls out a condenser or heat exchanger, B111 is the designation to quote against. B467 covers welded pipe, produced by ERW or EFW and hydrotested at 100%. All three share the same UNS C70600 chemistry.
Is seamless or welded Cu-Ni 90/10 better for seawater piping?
Both perform the same in service, since the corrosion resistance comes from the C70600 alloy itself, not the production method. Seamless is the right call where the tube expands into a tubesheet or runs in small-bore instrumentation service; welded is the more cost-effective choice for straight-run seawater mains, ballast lines, and larger-bore piping.
Is Cu-Ni 90/10 seamless tube suitable for tube-to-tubesheet expansion in a shell-and-tube exchanger?
Yes. Seamless construction with a consistent OD gives a more reliable expanded joint than welded tube, because there's no weld seam to create an inconsistency around the tube's circumference.
What temper options are available for Cu-Ni 90/10 tube?
ASTM B466 recognizes soft annealed (O60), light drawn (H55), hard drawn (H80), and hard drawn & end-annealed (HE80) tempers. Tell us your application and we'll confirm the right temper and current stock availability.
How does Cu-Ni 90/10 compare to 70/30 in the same seawater service?
90/10 offers strong seawater and biofouling resistance at a lower cost and with easier fabrication than 70/30. 70/30 carries higher strength and better resistance in higher-velocity or more aggressive seawater conditions. See our full Copper Nickel 70/30 Pipes & Tubes page for a direct comparison.
Do you supply mill test certificates with Cu-Ni 90/10 pipe and tube?
Yes, every order ships with mill test certification and full material traceability back to the heat, for both seamless and welded product.
What's the largest diameter available in welded Cu-Ni 90/10 pipe?
Welding (ERW, EFW, or spiral) is the more practical and economical route once pipe sizes exceed what's efficient to produce seamlessly, so welded pipe covers a wider diameter range than seamless. Send us your OD and we'll confirm availability against current mill stock.
