Selecting the Right Perforated Tubes

What Are Perforated Tubes and How Do You Select the Right Ones?

Perforated tubes are metal tubes that have holes or slits punctured through the wall to enable liquids or air to enter or exit the cylinder. Filter applications such as oil filtration are the most common use of perforated tubes, although they are also frequently utilized for underground drainage.  Additionally, vehicle mufflers commonly employ perforated tubes when needing to reduce engine sounds and filter exhaust gases.

Architectural Applications for Perforated Tubes

Due to their practical and aesthetic features, perforated metal tubes are very popular among architects and designers. That’s why you’ll find them being used in lighting fixtures, conduit ducts, safety guards, and other interior design elements, in which they allow light or air to be exchanged or to dampen sound or noise.

Choosing Perforated Metal Tubes for Your Application

Perforated tubes come in a variety of patterns, styles in the perforations, and seams of the tubing. Metalex offers two primary seam designs for perforated spiral tubes: the flush (outside) and inside lock seam, which is popular for use in fluid filtration; we also offer a unique spiral louvered design with a flushed lock seam, used as an alternative to the straight seam tube when a weld is not required. Other seam designs include various welded and abutted options.

Perforated tubes come in a variety of materials to meet the requirements of the specific application. Materials used in the manufacture of perforated tubing include: tin plated, galvanized metal, stainless steel, brass, and aluminum. The material used will be application-specific based on the demands of the environment or the aesthetics required.

For example, perforated tin plated metal tubes are used primarily in filtration type applications. While perforated stainless steel, brass, and aluminum tubes lend themselves to use as architectural elements.

When selecting a type of perforated tubing for a particular application, our customer service representatives are available for commercial advice. To learn more about our perforated products, access your copy of our guide Proper Selection for Perforated Products by clicking here or the button below.