Bright Annealed Tube Manufacturer in India
A Bright Annealed tube is what you specify when the bore has to stay clean. Metinox Overseas supplies bright annealed stainless steel tube in seamless and welded form, in 304, 304L, 316L, 321 and other austenitic grades, made to ASTM A269 and ASTM A249. Every length is annealed inside a sealed furnace under hydrogen. No scale forms, so no acid pickling is needed afterward. The result is an inside surface below 0.4 µm Ra, free of loose oxide that could travel into instruments, fuel injectors or a process stream, and a soft tube that bends and flares without cracking. As a bright annealed tubes manufacturer and exporter, we ship to buyers across India, the GCC and other export markets, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates and heat number traceability on every order.
Table of content
- Bright Annealed Tube Specification
- What Makes a Stainless Steel Bright Annealed Tube Different
- Bright Annealed Tubes vs Pickled and Electropolished Finish
- Bright Annealed Seamless Tube or Welded: Which to Specify
- Grades and Equivalents for SS Bright Annealed Tube
- Size Chart for Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
- BA Finish Pipe in NPS Schedules
- Dimensional Tolerances of SS Bright Annealed Tube
- Chemical Composition of Bright Annealing Stainless Steel Tubes
- Mechanical Properties of Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
- Industries Using Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
- Packing and Export of Bright Annealed Tubes
- Bright Annealed Tube Price
- Frequently Asked Questions BA Tubing
- Get a Quote for Your BA Tube Order
Bright Annealed Tube Specification
| Parameter | Range |
| Outside diameter | 6 mm to 76.2 mm (1/4 in to 3 in) |
| Wall thickness | 0.5 mm to 3.91 mm |
| Length | Up to 9 m, fixed or random, cut to length on request |
| Type | Seamless, welded, welded and redrawn |
| Grades | 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 316Ti, 321, 347, 904L, Duplex 2205 |
| Specifications | ASTM A789 (Duplex 2205); ASME BPE; EN 10216-5, EN 10217-7 |
| Inside surface | Below 0.4 µm Ra (electropolished option 0.13 to 0.25 µm) |
| Hardness | 90 HRB max |
| Ends | Plain, bevelled, threaded |
| Certificate | EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request) |
What Makes a Stainless Steel Bright Annealed Tube Different
A stainless steel bright annealed tube is a cold finished tube that has been solution annealed in an atmosphere with no oxygen in it, usually dry hydrogen or a blend of nitrogen and hydrogen. Heated and cooled in that atmosphere, the steel softens and its chromium stays in solid solution, but the surface never oxidises. It leaves the furnace bright, clean and fully corrosion resistant.
A tube annealed in open air comes out covered in dark scale, which must then be removed with acid. Bright annealing removes that step, and with it the risk of acid residue and the rougher surface pickling leaves behind.
How Bright Annealing of Stainless Steel Tubes Works
- Cleaning. Drawing oil and dirt are removed inside and out.
- Heating. Tubes travel through a sealed muffle furnace at 1,040 to 1,150°C.
- Soaking. The tube is held at heat long enough to dissolve carbides and recrystallise the grain.
- Cooling. Fast cooling inside the same protective gas stops oxidation and carbide formation.
- Straightening and inspection. Tubes are straightened, then checked for size, finish and defects.
What controls BA surface quality: hydrogen purity, furnace dew point (we hold below −40°C*), muffle sealing, protective gas pressure, and a clean, oil-free tube going in. A wet or leaking furnace gives a straw or blue tint instead of a bright finish.
Bright Annealed Tubes vs Pickled and Electropolished Finish
| Property | Bright annealed (BA) | Annealed and pickled (AP) | Electropolished (EP) |
| Process | Annealed in hydrogen | Annealed in air, then acid pickled | BA tube, then electrochemically polished |
| Inside roughness | Below 0.4 µm Ra | 0.9 to 1.4 µm Ra | 0.13 to 0.25 µm Ra |
| Appearance | Bright, reflective | Dull matte grey | Mirror |
| Residue risk | None | Acid residue possible | None |
| Relative cost | Medium | Lowest | Highest |
| Typical use | Instrumentation, food, pharma, automotive | General industrial | Semiconductor gas, biotech |
Bright Annealed Seamless Tube or Welded: Which to Specify
A bright annealed seamless tube has no weld line and carries higher pressure, so it is the usual choice for hydraulic, instrumentation and fuel lines. Welded BA tube costs less and holds a very even wall, which suits food, dairy and pharmaceutical process lines.
| Factor | Bright annealed seamless tube | Bright annealed welded tube |
| Made from | Pierced hollow, cold drawn or pilgered | Strip, TIG or laser welded, bead rolled |
| Weld seam | None | Present, rolled flush |
| Pressure rating | Higher | Lower, weld joint factor applies |
| Wall uniformity | Good | Excellent |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Specification | ASTM A269, A213 | ASTM A269, A249 |
| Best for | Hydraulics, instrumentation, fuel lines | Food, dairy, pharma, heat exchangers |
Grades and Equivalents for SS Bright Annealed Tube
| Grade | UNS | EN (W.Nr.) | JIS | Pick it for | Not ideal for |
| 304 | S30400 | 1.4301 | SUS304 | General corrosion service, food contact | Chloride exposure |
| 304L | S30403 | 1.4307, 1.4306 | SUS304L | Systems welded on site | Higher strength needs |
| 316 | S31600 | 1.4401 | SUS316 | Chlorides, marine air, mild acids | Lowest cost jobs |
| 316L | S31603 | 1.4404, 1.4435 | SUS316L | Pharma, semiconductor, welded systems | Very high temperature |
| 316Ti | S31635 | 1.4571 | SUS316Ti | Welded parts in sustained 400 to 800°C service | Electropolished hygienic lines |
| 321 | S32100 | 1.4541 | SUS321 | Service at 425 to 815°C | Hygienic polished lines |
| 347 | S34700 | 1.4550 | SUS347 | High temperature service where 321 Ti loss is a concern | Low cost general service |
| 904L | N08904 | 1.4539 | none | Sulphuric and phosphoric acid | Budget projects |
| Duplex 2205 | S32205 | 1.4462 | SUS329J3L | Strength plus pitting resistance (supplied to ASTM A789) | Service above about 300°C |
Size Chart for Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
Imperial Sizes of Bright Annealed Tubes (ASTM A269, A249)
| OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | ID (mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
| 6.00 | 1.00 | 4.00 | 0.125 |
| 8.00 | 1.00 | 6.00 | 0.174 |
| 10.00 | 1.00 | 8.00 | 0.224 |
| 12.00 | 1.00 | 10.00 | 0.274 |
| 12.00 | 1.50 | 9.00 | 0.392 |
| 16.00 | 1.50 | 13.00 | 0.542 |
Need a size that is not listed? Send OD, wall and length and we will confirm availability and price within one working day.
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BA Finish Pipe in NPS Schedules
| NPS | OD (mm) | SCH 5S (mm) | SCH 10S (mm) | SCH 40S (mm) |
| 1/4 | 13.7 | not listed | 1.65 | 2.24 |
| 1/2 | 21.3 | 1.65 | 2.11 | 2.77 |
| 3/4 | 26.7 | 1.65 | 2.11 | 2.87 |
| 1 | 33.4 | 1.65 | 2.77 | 3.38 |
| 1 1/2 | 48.3 | 1.65 | 2.77 | 3.68 |
| 2 | 60.3 | 1.65 | 2.77 | 3.91 |
Dimensional Tolerances of SS Bright Annealed Tube
| Property | Tolerance |
| Cut length, up to 7.3 m | +3.2 mm / −0 mm |
| Random length | Per order, typically 5 to 7 m |
| Straightness | 1 in 1,000 (commercial 1 in 600) |
Chemical Composition of Bright Annealing Stainless Steel Tubes
Values in %, per ASTM A269. Single figures are maximums.
| Grade | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Ni | Mo | Other |
| 304 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 18.0 to 20.0 | 8.0 to 11.0 | - | - |
| 304L | 0.035 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 18.0 to 20.0 | 8.0 to 12.0 | nil | - |
| 316 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 16.0 to 18.0 | 10.0 to 14.0 | 2.0 to 3.0 | - |
| 316L | 0.035 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 16.0 to 18.0 | 10.0 to 14.0 | 2.0 to 3.0 | - |
| 321 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.045 | 0.030 | 17.0 to 19.0 | 9.0 to 12.0 | - | Ti 5 x (C+N) min, 0.70 max |
Mechanical Properties of Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
| Grade | Tensile strength min (MPa) | Yield strength 0.2% min (MPa) | Elongation in 50 mm min | Hardness max |
| 304, 316, 321 | 515 | 205 | 35% | 90 HRB |
| 304L, 316L | 485 | 170 | 35% | 90 HRB |
Industries Using Bright Annealed Stainless Steel Tube
| Industry | Where it goes | Why BA |
| Pharmaceutical and biotech | Purified water loops, CIP and SIP lines | Smooth bore limits biofilm |
| Semiconductor | Process and purge gas lines | Low particle shedding |
| Food and dairy | Milk, juice and beverage lines | No acid residue, easy to clean |
| Oil, gas and petrochemical | Instrument, sampling and injection lines | Corrosion resistance, traceability |
| Power and heat exchangers | Condensers, evaporators, chillers | Thin wall, tight tolerance |
| Hydraulics and instrumentation | Gauge, sensor and control lines | Seamless option for high pressure |
| Automotive | Brake, fuel and CNG lines | Clean bore, easy flaring |
Packing and Export of Bright Annealed Tubes
Every BA tube is end capped and sleeved in polyethylene, then packed in wooden boxes or tri-wall cartons with dividers so the bright surface reaches site unscratched. For GCC laydown yards, boxes should be stored off the ground and out of direct sun and sand.
Bright Annealed Tube Price
The price of a bright annealed tube depends on grade (316L costs more than 304 because of its nickel and molybdenum), seamless or welded construction, OD and wall, length, quantity, finish, certificate level and inspection needs. Nickel and molybdenum prices move every week, so we quote against the current market. For a fast quote, send grade, specification, OD, wall, length, quantity, end finish, certificate, inspection and destination port.
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Frequently Asked Questions BA Tubing
A bright annealed tube is annealed in hydrogen and has an inside surface below 0.4 µm Ra. An electropolished tube is a BA tube polished further by an electrochemical process to 0.13 to 0.25 µm Ra, for ultra high purity gas and biotech lines.
For instrumentation, hygienic and automotive work, yes. It has a smoother, cleaner bore with no acid residue. Annealed and pickled tube costs less and suits general industrial service.
Austenitic grades such as 304 and 316L are bright annealed at 1,040 to 1,150°C in dry hydrogen or a nitrogen and hydrogen blend, then cooled quickly in the same gas.
304 suits food, water and general service at lower cost. 316L, with 2 to 3% molybdenum and low carbon, is the better choice for chlorides, welded systems, pharma and semiconductor lines.
Yes. Bright annealing leaves the tube fully soft, 90 HRB max, so it bends, flares and swages without cracking.
The main ones are ASTM A269 and A249, ASTM A213 for boiler and heat exchanger tube, ASME BPE for bioprocessing, and EN EN 10216-5 and EN 10217-7 in Europe.
Get a Quote for Your BA Tube Order
Send your grade, size, length and quantity to Metinox Overseas. Our team will come back with price, availability and delivery for your bright annealed tube order.
Request a quote
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