What advantage do seamless tubes typically have over welded tubes?

Seamless tubes offer a notable advantage in terms of strength and durability due to their manufacturing process, which involves forming solid metal into a tube without any seams or joints. This absence of welds means that seamless tubes are generally more robust and can withstand higher pressures and more extreme conditions than welded tubes. The uniformity of the material throughout the structure also contributes to better performance under stress and fatigue, making seamless tubes ideal for applications that demand high integrity, such as in aerospace, oil and gas, and high-pressure piping systems.

In contrast, welded tubes can have inherent weaknesses where the welds occur. These areas might be more prone to failure under certain stress conditions compared to the continuous material of seamless tubes. While welded tubes can be economical and produced faster, their potential vulnerabilities under stress make seamless tubes the preferred choice when strength and durability are paramount.