ASTM B163 (also known as ASME SB-163) covers seamless tubes of nickel and nickel alloys for condenser and heat-exchanger service. This specification covers a wide range of nickel-based alloys including pure nickel, Monel, Inconel, and Incoloy alloys. These tubes are essential for heat transfer applications in chemical processing, power generation, marine, and offshore industries.
Zhengzhou Huitong (HT Pipe) supplies ASTM B163 / SB-163 compliant seamless nickel alloy tubes with 100% eddy current testing and full EN 10204 3.1 CMTRs. U-bend tubes are manufactured in-house.
1. Standard Scope & Covered Alloys
ASTM B163 covers seamless tubes for condenser and heat-exchanger service in the following UNS numbers:
| UNS |
Common Name |
Key Composition |
| N02200 |
Nickel 200 |
99% Ni, 0.15% C max |
| N02201 |
Nickel 201 |
99% Ni, 0.02% C max |
| N04400 |
Monel 400 |
63-70% Ni, 28-34% Cu |
| N05500 |
Monel K500 |
63-70% Ni, 27-33% Cu, Al, Ti |
| N06600 |
Inconel 600 |
72% Ni min, 14-17% Cr |
| N06601 |
Inconel 601 |
58-63% Ni, 21-25% Cr, Al |
| N06625 |
Inconel 625 |
58% Ni, 21% Cr, 9% Mo, 3.6% Nb |
| N06690 |
Inconel 690 |
58% Ni, 30% Cr |
| N08800 |
Incoloy 800 |
30-35% Ni, 19-23% Cr, 39.5% Fe |
| N08825 |
Incoloy 825 |
38-46% Ni, 19-23% Cr, 2.5% Mo |
| N10276 |
Hastelloy C276 |
57% Ni, 16% Mo, 15% Cr |
Scope Statement (ASTM B163-19): "This specification covers seamless tubes of nickel and nickel alloys for use in condenser and heat-exchanger service. The tubes shall be furnished in the annealed condition unless supplemental requirements call for solution annealing."
| Designation |
Issuing Body |
Product Form |
Latest Edition |
| ASTM B163 |
ASTM International |
Seamless Tube |
B163-19 |
| ASME SB-163 |
ASME (BPVC Sec. II Part A) |
Seamless Tube |
2023 Edition |
2. Chemical Composition (ASTM B163 — Common Grades)
Values are maximum unless shown as a range or minimum. Heat analysis per ASTM B163-19.
| Element |
N02200
(Ni 200) |
N04400
(Monel 400) |
N06600
(Inconel 600) |
N08800
(Incoloy 800) |
| Nickel (Ni) |
99.0 min |
63.0-70.0 |
72.0 min |
30.0-35.0 |
| Copper (Cu) |
0.25 max |
28.0-34.0 |
0.50 max |
0.75 max |
| Chromium (Cr) |
— |
— |
14.0-17.0 |
19.0-23.0 |
| Iron (Fe) |
0.40 max |
2.50 max |
6.0-10.0 |
39.5 min |
| Carbon (C), max |
0.15 |
0.30 |
0.15 |
0.10 |
| Manganese (Mn), max |
0.35 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
| Sulfur (S), max |
0.01 |
0.024 |
0.015 |
0.015 |
| Silicon (Si), max |
0.35 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
1.0 |
| Aluminum (Al) |
— |
— |
— |
0.15-0.60 |
| Titanium (Ti) |
— |
— |
— |
0.15-0.60 |
3. Additional Grades Available (ASTM B163)
| UNS |
Common Name |
Key Composition |
Primary Application |
| N02201 |
Nickel 201 |
99% Ni, 0.02% C max |
High-temp caustic, electronics |
| N05500 |
Monel K500 |
63-70% Ni, 27-33% Cu, Al, Ti |
Higher strength requirements |
| N06601 |
Inconel 601 |
58-63% Ni, 21-25% Cr, Al |
High-temp oxidation resistance |
| N06625 |
Inconel 625 |
58% Ni, 21% Cr, 9% Mo, 3.6% Nb |
High corrosion, high strength |
| N06690 |
Inconel 690 |
58% Ni, 30% Cr |
Steam generators, nuclear |
| N08825 |
Incoloy 825 |
38-46% Ni, 19-23% Cr, 2.5% Mo |
H2SO4, seawater, corrosive |
| N10276 |
Hastelloy C276 |
57% Ni, 16% Mo, 15% Cr |
Highly corrosive environments |
4. Mechanical Property Requirements (Annealed Condition)
All values are minimum requirements in the annealed condition, per ASTM B163-19.
| Property |
N02200 |
N04400 |
N06600 |
N08800 |
| Tensile Strength, min (MPa) |
380 |
480 |
550 |
520 |
| Yield Strength (0.2% offset), min (MPa) |
105 |
195 |
240 |
205 |
| Elongation in 2 in. (50 mm), min (%) |
35 |
35 |
30 |
30 |
5. Available Products (ASTM B163)
5.1 Straight Tubes
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Size Range |
3/8" – 3" OD (9.53 mm – 76.2 mm) |
| Wall Thickness |
0.020" – 0.134" (0.5 mm – 3.4 mm) |
| Length |
Up to 40 feet (12 m) |
| Surface Finish |
Bright annealed, pickled, or polished |
5.2 U-Bend Tubes
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Standard Bend Radii |
1.5D, 2D, 3D |
| Custom Bend Radii |
Available on request |
| Mandrel Bent |
For smooth bore, no inner wrinkling |
| Wall Thickness |
100% wall thickness maintained at bend |
5.3 Special Configurations
| Product Type |
Description |
| Finned Tubes |
For enhanced heat transfer (integral fins) |
| Welded Tube Sheets |
Tube-to-tubesheet welded assemblies |
| Coiled Tubes |
For compact heat exchangers |
| Custom Lengths |
Cut-to-length with tight tolerances |
6. Material Selection Guide
| Service Condition |
Recommended Material |
Reason |
| Fresh Water |
N02200, N04400 |
Good corrosion resistance |
| Seawater (Aerated) |
N04400 |
Excellent seawater resistance |
| Seawater (Low Velocity) |
N02200 |
Good for calm seawater |
| Caustic Solutions |
N02200, N02201 |
Excellent NaOH resistance |
| Sulfuric Acid (Dilute) |
N04400, N08825 |
Good to moderate resistance |
| High Temp (Oxidation) |
N06600, N06601 |
Excellent oxidation resistance |
| Sour Gas / Cl- Stress Cracking |
N06625, N10276 |
Highest corrosion resistance |
| Steam / Condensate |
N06600, N08800 |
Good in wet steam |
7. Corrosion Resistance by Alloy
Nickel 200 (UNS N02200)
| Media |
Resistance |
| Caustic Alkalies (NaOH, KOH) |
Excellent — primary application |
| Neutral & Alkaline Salts |
Good resistance |
| Food & Dairy |
Suitable, FDA compliant |
| Nitric Acid |
❌ Not recommended |
Monel 400 (UNS N04400)
| Media |
Resistance |
| Seawater & Brackish Water |
Excellent resistance |
| Hydrofluoric Acid |
Excellent resistance |
| Non-Oxidizing Acids |
Good resistance |
| Neutral & Alkaline Salts |
Good resistance |
Inconel 600 (UNS N06600)
| Media |
Resistance |
| High-Temp Oxidation |
Excellent resistance |
| High-Temp Steam |
Suitable for long-term service |
| Organic Compounds |
Good resistance |
| Moderate Acids |
Moderate resistance |
Incoloy 800 (UNS N08800)
| Media |
Resistance |
| High-Temp Strength |
Good strength at elevated temperatures |
| Oxidation Resistance |
Excellent |
| Aqueous Environments |
Good in many aqueous environments |
| Nuclear Steam Generators |
Suitable (used in nuclear applications) |
8. Industries & Applications
8.1 Power Generation
| Application |
Recommended Alloy |
| Surface Condensers |
N04400 (Monel 400) |
| Feedwater Heaters |
N06600 (Inconel 600) |
| Nuclear Steam Generators |
N06690 (Inconel 690), N08800 (Incoloy 800) |
| Steam Surface Condensers |
N04400, N02200 |
8.2 Chemical Processing
| Application |
Recommended Alloy |
| Reboilers |
N06600, N06625 |
| Evaporators |
N02200, N04400 |
| Acid Coolers |
N04400, N08825, N10276 |
| Heat Exchangers (Corrosive Media) |
N06625, N10276 |
8.3 Marine & Offshore
| Application |
Recommended Alloy |
| Seawater Condensers |
N04400 (Monel 400) |
| Marine Heat Exchangers |
N04400, N06625 |
| Offshore Platform Cooling |
N04400, N08825 |
| FPSO Vessels |
N04400, N06625 |
8.4 Oil & Gas
| Application |
Recommended Alloy |
| Crude Oil Heater Coils |
N06600, N06625 |
| Gas Processing Heat Exchangers |
N04400, N06600 |
| Produced Water Coolers |
N04400, N08825 |
| LNG Heat Exchangers |
N02200, N04400 |
9. Manufacturing Process
| Step |
Process |
Description |
| 1 |
Melting |
AOD, VOD, or vacuum arc remelting (VAR) |
| 2 |
Hot Extrusion |
Produce hollow shells or mother tubes |
| 3 |
Cold Drawing |
Multiple passes with intermediate annealing |
| 4 |
Solution Annealing |
Critical for optimal corrosion resistance |
| 5 |
Straightening |
For straight tubes |
| 6 |
U-Bending |
For U-tube configurations (if required) |
| 7 |
Final Inspection |
Dimensional, visual, NDT |
10. Testing & Inspection Requirements
| Test |
Requirement |
Reference Standard |
| Chemical Analysis (Heat) |
One per heat / melt; all elements per spec |
ASTM B163 |
| Tensile Test |
One per lot |
ASTM E8 / E8M |
| Flattening Test |
One per end from each lot |
ASTM B163 |
| Flare Test |
For tubes under 3" OD |
ASTM B163 |
| Hardness Test |
Rockwell or Brinell; one per lot |
ASTM E10 / E18 |
| Hydrostatic Test |
100% of tubes |
ASTM B163 |
| Eddy Current Test |
100% — critical for heat exchanger service |
ASTM E426 |
| Visual Inspection |
Internal and external surface |
ASTM B163 |
11. Eddy Current Testing (ECT)
For critical heat exchanger service, ASTM B163 requires eddy current testing per ASTM E426:
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Probe Type |
Internal, rotating or sector array |
| Calibration |
Using standard reference tubes with artificial flaws |
| Detection |
Dimensional variations, pits, laps, seams, cracks |
| Documentation |
100% inspection records maintained |
12. Dimension Tolerances (ASTM B163)
| Parameter |
Tolerance |
| Outside Diameter |
±0.005" (±0.13 mm) for OD ≤1"
±0.010" (±0.25 mm) for OD >1" |
| Wall Thickness |
±10% of specified wall |
| Length |
+1/8" / -0" (+3 mm / -0 mm) |
| Straightness |
0.010" per foot maximum |
13. U-Tube Specifications (ASTM B163)
| Parameter |
Tolerance / Specification |
| Bend Radius |
Min 1.5 × OD |
| U-Tube Length |
±1/4" (±6 mm) |
| Leg Length Difference |
±1/8" (±3 mm) |
| Out-of-Roundness at Bend |
Per ASTM B163 requirements |
14. Related ASTM Standards
| Standard |
Scope |
Relationship to B163 |
| ASTM B161 |
Nickel Seamless Pipe and Tube |
Companion standard for pipe |
| ASTM B165 |
Monel 400 Seamless Pipe and Tube |
Monel 400 tubular products |
| ASTM B423 |
Incoloy 825 Seamless Pipe and Tube |
Incoloy 825 tubular products |
| ASTM B444 |
Inconel 625 Seamless Pipe and Tube |
Inconel 625 tubular products |
| ASTM E426 |
Eddy Current Testing of Tubular Products |
Mandatory NDT method for B163 |
15. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between ASTM B163 and ASTM B161?
A: ASTM B163 covers tubes specifically for condenser and heat-exchanger service with specific dimensional tolerances for tube bundles. ASTM B161 covers general-purpose seamless pipe and tube without the specialized testing for heat exchanger applications.
Q: Why is eddy current testing required for heat exchanger tubes?
A: Eddy current testing (ECT) detects surface and near-surface defects that could lead to tube failures in service. Since heat exchanger tubes are critical for preventing mixing of fluids, ECT ensures tube integrity before installation.
Q: What material should I use for seawater condensers?
A: For seawater service, UNS N04400 (Monel 400) is the preferred material due to its excellent resistance to seawater corrosion. For lower velocity, clean seawater, UNS N02200 (Nickel 200) can also be used.
Q: Can ASTM B163 tubes be welded?
A: Yes, all nickel alloy tubes can be welded. For tube-to-tubesheet welding, use appropriate filler metals (ERNi-1 for Nickel 200/201, ERNiCu-7 for Monel 400, ERNiCr-3 for Inconel 600). The tube ends should be prepared and the weld should be inspected per applicable codes.
Q: What surface finish is recommended for heat exchanger tubes?
A: Typically, bright annealed (BA) finish is preferred for internal tube surfaces in heat exchangers to promote cleanability and minimize fouling. The external surface can be as-annealed or polished depending on the shell-side environment.
Request a Quote — ASTM B163 Nickel Alloy Heat Exchanger Tubes
Zhengzhou Huitong (HT Pipe) supplies ASTM B163 / SB-163 compliant seamless nickel alloy tubes with full traceability, 100% ECT testing, and U-bend fabrication. Full EN 10204 3.1 CMTRs and competitive lead times from affiliated mills in China.
