COPPER CAPILLARY TUBING

A LIFE ARTERY FOR YOUR COOLING CIRCUITS

DEFINITIONS AND DESIGNATIONS 

     Capillary tubing is the name given to all tubes whose outside diameter is less than 4 mm. Wall thickness is usually less than 1 mm and, in some special cases, it may be extremely thin, although never less than 0.25 mm. Capillary tubing is usually supplied in coils and, apart from exceptions, it comes in annealed form. Choke tubing is the name given to tubes whose outside diameter is about 2 mm or less and whose inside diameter is between 0.6 and 0.8 mm. The manufacturing process for this type of tubing is more complex since its inside surface must be even smoother, shinier and cleaner than that of standard capillary tubing to ensure exact and constant flow of cooling fluid, which is of the greatest importance for correct operations of cooling circuits. Choke tubing is usually supplied in straight pieces whose length depends on the requirements of each order, each up to 8 m. It is used in both hard and annealed form, although the ductility of the material permits the handling of such thin tube without annealing in most cases. The price of this type of tubing is somewhat higher than that of standard capillary tubing.

MATERIAL

     99.90% and above copper is exclusively used in the manufacture of MANDEV tubing with phosphorous 0.015 – 0.040 % (DHP grade). In certain special cases, only by request, electrolytic copper (E-Cu) is used.

MECHANICAL FEATURES 

    The following values are given for indicative purposes. With certain tolerances, they may be considered valid for MANDEV tubing manufactured with (DHP Grade) copper.  

TEST AND TRIALS 

MANDEV tubing is subjected to a series of tests and trials from the beginning, verifying the materials used and products in progress all the way to the end of the process, after they have been finished. These tests and trials ensure:

•      Purity of raw materials

•      Particle size after annealing (0.035 mm or Larger).

•      Perfect finish of outside and inside surfaces.

•      Inside cleanliness of tubing, whose dry residue may not exceed 0.30 grs/mm

•      Correct intermediate and final dimensions, in compliance with established tolerances.

•      In general, complete observance of international standards and of the specific requirements of    each consumer.

•      Customers may request special tests in the assurance that they will be conducted exactly as required.

     Almost all the tests and trials are applied to both capillary tubing and choke tubing but, in the case of the latter, flow is subjected to 100% control.

TOLERANCES 

     MANDEV capillary tubing is usually manufactured with a general tolerance of plus and minus 0.05 mm for outside and inside diameters, unless the customer requires other specific tolerances, which may be lower.

     The tolerance of MANDEV choke tubing is kept within narrower limits, according to the required flow.

FINISH AND PACKING

     The MANDEV capillary tubing supplied in coils comes with open or crimped ends. The coils are tied and placed in plastic bags, which are later heat-sealed each of 100 feet bunch coils and further packed in individual corrugated box. Depending on the final destination, wooden crates / extra corrugated box may be used for dispatch.

     MANDEV choke tubing in straight pieces is supplied with open, crimped or plastic-plugged ends, as requested, and are usually tied in bundles of 100 tubes.

     When ordering, specify the two most critical dimensions: OD and ID, OD and wall thickness, or ID and wall thickness. Other specifications may include tolerances required, length (straight, exact, random or coil), quantities, for quotation by feet, piece or kilogram.