Overview
ISO 18762:2016 - "Tubes of titanium and titanium alloys - Welded tubes for condensers and heat exchangers - Technical delivery conditions" specifies technical delivery, manufacture and inspection requirements for welded titanium and titanium-alloy tubes intended for condensers and heat exchangers. The standard covers purchaser-supplier information, manufacturing processes, chemical and mechanical requirements, testing methods and documentation needed for conformity.
Key Topics
- Scope and purchaser data: Purchase orders should state quantity, grade, outside diameter and wall thickness, lengths, manufacturing method and finish, non‑destructive tests, packaging, inspection and certification. Options include restrictive chemistry, product analysis and special mechanical properties.
- Manufacturing rules: Tubes are made from flat-rolled strip by automatic arc welding, laser welding or other welding processes. Use of filler material is not permitted and butt-welds are forbidden. Annealing between 500 °C and 800 °C is applied when agreed.
- Chemical composition: Chemical limits and residuals for a range of titanium grades are specified (see Table 1 in the standard). Intentional additions and specific residual elements must be reported.
- Mechanical properties: Room temperature tensile properties are defined (Table 2). Special mechanical properties can be agreed between purchaser and manufacturer.
- Mechanical and deformation tests: Flattening test (ISO 8492), reverse flattening (ASTM A370 supplementary requirements), and drift‑expanding/flaring test (ISO 8493) are specified to verify forming performance.
- Non‑destructive testing (NDT): Pneumatic testing, eddy‑current (ISO 25902‑1) and ultrasonic testing for longitudinal imperfections (ISO 25902‑2) are referenced. Surface condition, dimensional tolerances, marking, packaging and certification requirements are included.
- Inspection and documentation: Inspection frequency, sample selection, test methods, rounding-off procedures, rejection criteria and certification formats are defined.
Applications
ISO 18762:2016 applies to welded titanium tubes used in:
- Condenser and heat exchanger tubes in power plants, chemical and petrochemical plants, desalination and marine applications.
- Situations requiring corrosion-resistant, lightweight heat-transfer tubing where titanium alloys are specified.
Compliance ensures consistent material quality, testability and traceability for critical heat-transfer components.
Who should use this standard
- Tube manufacturers and mills producing welded titanium tubes
- Heat exchanger and condenser OEMs and designers
- Quality and inspection engineers, NDT laboratories, procurement teams
- Regulatory and compliance personnel specifying material acceptance criteria
Related standards
Key normative references include ISO 6892‑1, ISO 8492, ISO 8493, ISO 25902‑1/2, ISO 10474 and relevant ASTM methods (E29, E120, E1409, E1447, E1941).
Keywords: ISO 18762, titanium tubes, welded titanium tubes, heat exchangers, condensers, technical delivery conditions, non‑destructive testing, flattening test, tensile properties, tube manufacturing.