Will it be replaced by new materials?
It still dominates the market below 540℃, but ultra-supercritical units promote the application of T91/P92. Improvement directions include: optimizing Nb and V micro-alloying (such as 15CrMoG), developing thin-walled precision tubes (wall thickness tolerance ±0.1mm) to reduce costs, and it is irreplaceable in the short term.
Impact of green manufacturing technology?
The proportion of short-process electric furnace steelmaking has increased (CO₂ emissions per ton of steel have decreased by 60%), and the pickling-free process has been promoted (such as mechanical dephosphorization instead of pickling). Heat treatment furnaces are converted to natural gas + oxygen-enriched combustion, and energy consumption is reduced by 25%. Environmental protection costs have increased by about 8%, but it is in line with the "dual carbon" policy.
How does digitalization change production?
AI-driven intelligent tube rolling systems (such as automatic wall thickness control) reduce the defective rate from 2% to 0.5%. The blockchain traceability platform realizes the full life cycle management of materials. Digital twin technology simulates service aging, predicts replacement cycles, and reduces unplanned downtime.
What are the trends in the international market?
The construction of power plants in Southeast Asia has driven export growth (annual demand increased by 12%), but the EU carbon tariff (CBAM) has increased costs by 10%~15%. Domestic companies are accelerating the layout of overseas production bases (such as Vietnam and Indonesia) to avoid trade barriers. The focus of competition has shifted to high-precision tubes (such as inner wall Ra≤0.8μm).
Challenges of new material technology?
Ceramic composite tubes (such as Al₂O₃ coatings) are alternatives in the wear-resistant field, but the cost is 5 times higher. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) can achieve complex structures, but large-size pipelines still rely on traditional processes. In the future, 15CrMo needs to be used in combination with new materials (such as stainless steel lined bimetallic tubes).
