Titanium and Zirconium Condenser Fabricator
When you think of a pipe spool shop, you typically don't think of a clean room environment, painted floors, and near zero weld rejection rates. That is what you get with TiFab. As a proven ASTM B-861/2 pipe spool fabricator, we build pipe spools in titanium, zirconium, and other high-performance alloys for critical service environments where carbon steel and standard stainless cannot survive. Leave your steel work to your typical pipe fab shop. When your process demands corrosion resistance in aggressive media, trust your pipe spool fabrication to TiFab.
The largest chemical plants on the Gulf Coast producing chlorine, acetic acid, and PTA have their pipe spool fabrication performed by TiFab. When the U.S. Navy needs titanium pipe fabrication on nuclear submarines and carriers, they trust their pipe spools to TiFab. When offshore operators need FPSO and GBS piping systems built to classification standards, they call TiFab.
Materials Built for Aggressive Service
TiFab manufactures pipe spools 6" and below from both seamless (ASTM B-861) and welded (ASTM B-862) titanium pipe, typically in schedules 10s, 40s, and 80s. Sizes 8" and above are manufactured by rolling and welding annealed titanium plate (ASTM B-265) with 100% radiographic (RT) and penetrant testing (PT). As a titanium spool manufacturer, we work with Grades 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, and other alloys selected for their strength, chloride resistance, and long-term reliability in high-temperature or highly acidic conditions. Sizes range from 1/2" up to 96" in schedules 5 through 160.
As a zirconium spool manufacturer, TiFab also supplies zirconium pipe and fittings in Zr 702 and Zr 705 for processes involving sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and other media where even titanium may not provide adequate resistance. Additional materials include Hastelloy, Inconel, and duplex stainless steel.
Industrial Applications
TiFab supplies ASTM B-861/2 pipe spool assemblies across the most demanding sectors in heavy industry. In chemical and petrochemical processing, our spools handle corrosive reagents, heat exchanger piping, and reactor feed lines. Pulp and paper operations rely on our fabrication for chlorine dioxide bleaching systems and chemical recovery circuits, where chloride attack is constant.
For offshore oil and gas projects, including FPSOs and gravity-based structures (GBS), TiFab fabricates seawater-cooling, ballast, firewater, and process piping spools that meet stringent classification requirements. Our pipe spools also serve water purification and desalination facilities, where titanium's resistance to seawater corrosion directly translates into lower lifecycle costs.
Request a Quote
Let TiFab be your corrosion-solving partner. Contact us with your specifications, drawings, or bill of materials, and our engineering team will provide a detailed proposal. From single spools to full-system fabrication packages, we deliver the material expertise and production capacity your project requires.
FAQs
What is the difference between ASTM B-861 and ASTM B-862 titanium pipe?
ASTM B-861 covers seamless titanium pipe, which is manufactured from a single hollow billet through extrusion or rotary piercing. ASTM B-862 covers welded titanium pipe, which is formed from flat-rolled titanium sheet or plate and joined using an inert gas shielded-arc welding process. Both standards cover the same range of titanium grades and are intended for general corrosion-resisting and elevated-temperature service. TiFab fabricates pipe spools from both seamless and welded pipe depending on diameter, schedule, and project specification requirements.
Why choose shop-fabricated pipe spools over field-fabricated piping?
Shop fabrication takes place in a controlled environment that eliminates exposure to wind, moisture, and temperature swings, all of which can compromise weld quality in reactive metals like titanium and zirconium. Welders can use positioners for optimal down-hand (1G) welding, and NDE such as radiography and liquid penetrant testing can be performed without disrupting site activities. The result is tighter dimensional tolerances, lower weld rejection rates, and reduced on-site labor and installation time. For projects with tight turnaround windows, shop-fabricated spools remove piping from the critical path and help avoid costly rework during shutdowns.
What special welding requirements apply to titanium and zirconium pipe spools?
Titanium and zirconium are reactive metals that must be shielded from oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen during welding and cooling. This requires high-purity argon gas shielding, trailing shields, and back-purging systems to protect both the weld face and root side. Any atmospheric contamination leads to embrittlement and premature failure. TiFab's welders are qualified to ASME Section IX with procedures specifically developed for reactive metal fabrication, and all welds are performed in our clean room shop environment to maintain gas purity throughout the process.