Views: 1 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-04-24 Origin: Site
Earlier this year, we successfully completed an export order for a Bolivian customer. This order was for 90-degree and 180-degree carbon steel butt-weld elbows, made of ASTM A234 WPB ordinary carbon steel. According to customer requirements, these elbows were manufactured strictly following customer-provided drawings. Basic dimensions referenced ASME B16.9 butt-weld fittings standards, with detailed adjustments based on the customer's actual application conditions.Specifically, the back-to-face height of the 180-degree butt-weld elbow was reduced from the standard dimension to better meet installation space and connection requirements in industrial piping systems.
ITEM | Description | QTY | Unit |
1 | Elbow 180 BW 3" SCH80 A234 WPB as per drawing | 315 | PCS |
2 | Elbow 90 LR BW 3" SCH 80 A234 WPB as per drawing | 65 | PCS |
Total | 380 | PCS |
After receiving the order, we promptly communicated with the customer to confirm all drawing parameters, ensuring every adjustment was clear and agreed upon. ASTM A234 WPB elbows are one of our regular mass-production items, and our team is highly experienced with the material properties and processing techniques. Therefore, production proceeded smoothly, and all products were manufactured on time and to quality standards.
For packaging and shipping, we custom-made export wooden crates with layered packing and internal reinforcement to prevent collision, deformation, or surface damage during long-distance transport. This ensured the elbows arrived in perfect condition at the customer’s site.
This successful cooperation with the Bolivian customer once again demonstrates our professional capability in customizing American-standard carbon steel butt-weld fittings — whether for standard products or non-standard dimensions made to drawings.
ASTM A234 is a standard developed by ASTM International for "Standard Specification for Piping Fittings of Wrought Carbon Steel and Alloy Steel for Moderate and High Temperature Service." It is a core standard for American-standard pressure pipe fittings, covering the manufacturing requirements for butt-weld elbows, tees, reducers, caps, and other fittings. ASTM A234 WPB is the most commonly used carbon steel material for butt-weld fittings, offering good low-temperature toughness, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature strength. It is mainly used in high-pressure valves, fittings, and chemical equipment.
WPB stands for:
W = Weldable / Wrought
P = Related to P-number of alloy material
B = Refers to minimum yield strength of material
CHEMICAL | LIMITS | C | Mn | P | S | Si | Cr | Mo | Ni | Cu | Cb | V |
ASTM A234 WPB | MIN | 0.29 | 0.10 | |||||||||
MAX | 0.30 | 1.06 | 0.050 | 0.058 | 0.40 | 0.15 | 0.40 | 0.40 | / | 0.08 |
Material | T.S (MPa) | Y.S (MPa) | EL % | Hardness |
ASTM A234 WPB | 415 min | 240 min | 22 min | 197 max |
Whether WPB fittings require heat treatment depends on the final forming temperature, not a uniform mandatory requirement.
Final Forming Temperature | Heat Treatment Requirement | Standard Clause |
620°C ~ 980°C | No heat treatment required (provided cooling is in still air) | 8.2.1 |
> 980°C | Heat treatment mandatory (annealing / normalizing / normalizing + tempering) | 8.2.2 |
< 620°C (cold formed) | Heat treatment mandatory (normalizing / stress relief annealing) | 8.2.4 |
Property | ASTM A234 WPB | 20# Carbon Steel (GB/T 699) | Q235B (GB/T 700) |
Carbon | ≤0.30% | 0.17-0.24% | ≤0.20% |
Manganese | 0.29-1.06% | 0.35-0.65% | ≤1.40% |
Yield strength | ≥241MPa | ≥245MPa | ≥235MPa |
Low-temperature toughness (-29°C) | ≥27J | Not required | Not certified |
Applicable temperature range | -46°C ~ 427°C | -20°C ~ 400°C | 0°C ~ 350°C |
Weld ability | Excellent (preheat not required) | Good | Requires heat input control |
ASME B16.9 is a standard developed by ASME for factory-made wrought butt-welding fittings. It is highly recognized worldwide and specifies dimensions, tolerances, testing methods, and other technical requirements for butt-weld fittings.
90-degree butt-weld elbows are common pressure pipe components used to change pipe direction by 90 degrees. Butt-welding means connecting the elbow to the pipe via welding, providing high strength and sealing.
DN | NPS | OD | A | |
LR | SR | |||
15 | 1/2 | 21.3 | 38 | 25 |
20 | 3/4 | 26.7 | 38 | 25 |
25 | 1 | 33.4 | 38 | 25 |
32 | 1-1/4 | 42.2 | 48 | 32 |
40 | 1-1/2 | 48.3 | 57 | 38 |
50 | 2 | 60.3 | 76 | 51 |
65 | 2-1/2 | 73.0 | 95 | 64 |
80 | 3 | 88.9 | 114 | 76 |
90 | 3-1/2 | 101.6 | 133 | 89 |
100 | 4 | 114.3 | 152 | 102 |
125 | 5 | 141.3 | 190 | 127 |
150 | 6 | 168.3 | 229 | 152 |
200 | 8 | 219.1 | 305 | 203 |
250 | 10 | 273.0 | 381 | 254 |
300 | 12 | 323.8 | 457 | 305 |
350 | 14 | 355.6 | 533 | 356 |
550 | 22 | 559.0 | 838 | 559 |
600 | 24 | 610.0 | 914 | 610 |
180-degree butt-weld elbows (U-bends) reverse pipe direction by 180 degrees. They are used in high-pressure, high-temperature, or high-leakage-tightness systems.
Nominal Size | Outside Diameter at Bevel | Center to Center | Back to Face | |||
180° Returns | ||||||
DN | NPS | OD | O | K | ||
LR | SR | LR | SR | |||
15 | 1/2 | 21.3 | 76 | 48 | ||
20 | 3/4 | 26.7 | 76 | 51 | ||
25 | 1 | 33.4 | 76 | 51 | 56 | 41 |
32 | 1 1/4 | 42.2 | 95 | 64 | 70 | 52 |
40 | 1 1/2 | 48.3 | 114 | 76 | 83 | 62 |
50 | 2 | 60.3 | 152 | 102 | 106 | 81 |
65 | 2 1/2 | 73.0 | 190 | 127 | 132 | 100 |
80 | 3 | 88.9 | 229 | 152 | 159 | 121 |
90 | 3 1/2 | 101.6 | 267 | 178 | 184 | 140 |
100 | 4 | 114.3 | 305 | 203 | 210 | 159 |
125 | 5 | 141.3 | 381 | 254 | 262 | 197 |
150 | 6 | 168.3 | 457 | 305 | 313 | 237 |
200 | 8 | 219.1 | 610 | 406 | 414 | 313 |
250 | 10 | 273.0 | 762 | 508 | 518 | 391 |
300 | 12 | 323.8 | 914 | 609 | 619 | 467 |
350 | 14 | 355.6 | 1067 | 711 | 711 | 533 |
400 | 16 | 406.4 | 1219 | 813 | 813 | 610 |
450 | 18 | 457.0 | 1372 | 914 | 914 | 686 |
500 | 20 | 508.0 | 1524 | 1016 | 1016 | 762 |
550 | 22 | 559.0 | 1676 | 1118 | 1118 | 838 |
600 | 24 | 610.0 | 1829 | 1219 | 1219 | 914 |
Petrochemical industry
Electric power industry
Refrigeration and HVAC
Shipbuilding
Food and pharmaceutical
Paper and textile
