Barrel Nipple
What is a Barrel Nipple?
A Barrel Nipple is a straight pipe fitting machined from solid bar stock, featuring male threads on both ends and a uniform cylindrical body throughout its length. Unlike hex nipples, barrel nipples do not have a wrench-friendly hex section, making them ideal for compact or concealed piping layouts.
Commonly used in instrumentation lines, utility piping, and low-clearance connections, barrel nipples are preferred for their clean design, high-pressure tolerance, and precise machining.
Key Features
Leak-Proof
Jointing
Durable
Construction
Easy Installation
& Removal
Wide
Compatibility
Corrosion
Resistant
Specifications
| Specification Category | Parameter / Feature | Details / Options |
|---|---|---|
| Size Range | Nominal Size | ½” to 4″ (custom sizes available) |
| Pressure Ratings | ANSI / ASME Class | Class 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, 2500 |
| PN Ratings | PN6, PN10, PN16, PN25, PN40, PN64 | |
| Product Types | Bar Stock Threaded Fitting | Barrel Nipple, Double Ended Nipple |
| Material Options | Carbon Steel | ASTM A105, ASTM A350 LF2 |
| Stainless Steel | ASTM A182 F304, F316, F321 | |
| Alloy Steel | ASTM A182 F5, F9, F11, F22 | |
| Other Alloys | Monel, Inconel, Titanium | |
| Standards & Certifications | ASTM | ASTM A182, ASTM A105 |
| ASME / ANSI | ASME B1.20.1, ASME B16.11 | |
| MSS | MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83 | |
| European Standards | EN 10241, EN 10226 | |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, PED 2014/68/EU, NACE MR0175, CE Marked | |
| Design Features | Thread Type | NPT, BSPT, BSPP |
| Wall Thickness | As per ASTM / ASME standards, schedule 40, 80 | |
| End Connections | Male Threaded | |
| Pressure Class | 2000#, 3000#, 6000#, 9000# | |
| Tolerance | Thread Tolerance | As per ASME B1.20.1 / ISO 7-1 |
| Coating & Surface Finish | Anti-Corrosion Coating | Zinc Plated, Passivation, Nickel Plating |
| Surface Finish | Mill Finish, Polished, Pickled, Bead Blasted | |
| Testing & Inspection | Pressure Testing | Hydrostatic, Pneumatic |
| Non-Destructive Testing | Dye Penetrant (DPT), Magnetic Particle (MPI) | |
| Destructive Testing | Tensile, Hardness, Torque Test |
Dimensions
| Fitting Type | Nominal Size (NPS) | Outside Diameter (OD) | Thread Length (T) | Overall Length (L) | Thread Type | Weight per Piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel Nipple | ½” | 21.3 mm | 20 mm | 60 mm | NPT / BSPT | 130g |
| Barrel Nipple | ¾” | 26.7 mm | 22 mm | 70 mm | NPT / BSPT | 180g |
| Barrel Nipple | 1″ | 33.4 mm | 25 mm | 80 mm | NPT / BSPT | 250g |
| Barrel Nipple | 1½” | 48.3 mm | 28 mm | 95 mm | NPT / BSPT | 380g |
| Barrel Nipple | 2″ | 60.3 mm | 30 mm | 110 mm | NPT / BSPT | 520g |
| Barrel Nipple | 2½” | 73.0 mm | 35 mm | 130 mm | NPT / BSPT | 720g |
| Barrel Nipple | 3″ | 88.9 mm | 40 mm | 150 mm | NPT / BSPT | 950g |
| Barrel Nipple | 4″ | 114.3 mm | 50 mm | 180 mm | NPT / BSPT | 1.3kg |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value | Unit / Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 485 – 750 | MPa (Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Alloy Steel) |
| Yield Strength | 170 – 450 | MPa |
| Hardness | 120 – 200 | HB (Brinell) |
| Elongation | ≥ 20 – 30 | % |
| Density | 7.8 – 8.0 | g/cm³ (Carbon Steel), 7.9 – 8.0 g/cm³ (Stainless Steel) |
| Impact Toughness | ≥ 27 – 70 | J (Charpy, grade-dependent) |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) | ~200 | GPa |
| Fatigue Strength | 250 – 450 | MPa |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good to Excellent (SS > CS > Alloy Steel) | – |
| Thermal Conductivity | 15 – 50 | W/m·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 11 – 17 ×10⁻⁶ | /°C |
| Yield Ratio (YS/UTS) | 0.40 – 0.65 | – |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.27 – 0.30 | – |
| Brinell Hardness Range | 120 – 200 | HB |
| Surface Finish | Mill Finish, Pickled, Polished, Bead Blasted | – |
| Thread Type | NPT / BSPT | – |
| End Connections | Male Threaded | – |
| Operating Temperature Range | -46 to 600 | °C (material-dependent) |
| Pressure Rating | Class 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, 2500 | ASME B1.20.1 / ASME B16.11 |
Chemical Composition
| Element | SS 304 | SS 304L | SS 316 | SS 316L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 18.0 – 20.0 | 18.0 – 20.0 | 16.0 – 18.0 | 16.0 – 18.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 8.0 – 10.5 | 8.0 – 12.0 | 10.0 – 14.0 | 10.0 – 14.0 |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.08 | ≤ 0.03 | ≤ 0.08 | ≤ 0.03 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 2.00 | ≤ 2.00 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 | ≤ 1.00 |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.045 | ≤ 0.045 | ≤ 0.045 | ≤ 0.045 |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
| Iron (Fe) | Balance | Balance | Balance | Balance |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | — | — | 2.0 – 3.0 | 2.0 – 3.0 |
Applications of Barrel Nipples
Construction &
Infrastructure
Automotive & Heavy
Equipment
Manufacturing &
Fabrication
Medical & Laboratory
Equipment
Electrical &
Electronics Assembly
Oil, Gas & Petrochemical
Installations
Do you have questions?
What is the main difference between a barrel nipple and a hex nipple?
Are barrel nipples available in custom lengths?
Which threads do you support?
Are stainless steel barrel nipples suitable for corrosive use?
