MS Pipe stands for Mild Steel Pipe, a low-carbon steel tubular product widely used in construction, scaffolding, fabrication, structural frameworks, water lines, and industrial applications. It is one of the most commonly used steel products due to its strength, weldability, machinability, and cost-effectiveness.
1️⃣ What is Mild Steel?
Mild steel is a low-carbon steel containing approximately:
Carbon content: 0.05% – 0.25%
Manganese: 0.25% – 0.60%
Small traces of silicon, sulfur, and phosphorus
Because of its low carbon content, MS is:
✔ Ductile
✔ Easy to weld
✔ Easy to bend and cut
✔ Less brittle compared to high-carbon steel
2️⃣ Manufacturing Process of MS Pipes
MS pipes are typically produced through:
🔹 ERW (Electric Resistance Welding)
Steel strip rolled into a cylindrical shape
Edges welded using electric current
Most common method for scaffolding pipes
🔹 Seamless Process (less common for scaffolding)
Made without weld seam
Higher pressure tolerance
3️⃣ Standard Dimensions (Numeric Facts)
🔹 Common Outside Diameters (OD)
| Nominal Size | Outside Diameter |
|---|---|
| ½ inch | 21.3 mm |
| 1 inch | 33.7 mm |
| 1.5 inch | 48.3 mm (Scaffolding standard) |
| 2 inch | 60.3 mm |
| 3 inch | 88.9 mm |
👉 48.3 mm OD is the global standard for scaffolding pipes.
🔹 Wall Thickness (Typical)
2.0 mm – 5.0 mm (general use)
Common scaffolding thickness: 3.2 mm – 4.0 mm
Heavy-duty structural use: 5.0 mm+
🔹 Standard Lengths
6 meters (most common)
5.8 meters (export standard)
Custom cut lengths available
4️⃣ Mechanical Properties (Approximate)
For typical MS (Grade IS 2062 or similar):
Yield Strength: 250 MPa (approx.)
Tensile Strength: 410 – 550 MPa
Elongation: 20–25%
Density of steel: 7,850 kg/m³
These properties make MS pipes strong enough for structural load applications while remaining workable.
5️⃣ Weight Calculation (Example)
Weight formula:
Weight(kg/m)=(OD−Thickness)×Thickness×0.02466Weight (kg/m) = (OD – Thickness) × Thickness × 0.02466Weight(kg/m)=(OD−Thickness)×Thickness×0.02466
Example:
For 48.3 mm OD, 3.2 mm thickness:
(48.3−3.2)×3.2×0.02466≈3.56kg/m(48.3 – 3.2) × 3.2 × 0.02466 ≈ 3.56 kg/m(48.3−3.2)×3.2×0.02466≈3.56kg/m
So a 6-meter pipe weighs approximately:
3.56×6≈21.4kg3.56 × 6 ≈ 21.4 kg3.56×6≈21.4kg

