Investigation of Hydrogen-induced Cracking Susceptibility of X90 Pipeline Steel Welded Joints

doi:10.3901/JME.2023.24.083

Abstract

Abstract: X90 pipeline steel has extensive application prospects in the construction of oil and gas pipelines, but its welded joint is sensitive to hydrogen induced crack (HIC) in the service process. The hydrogen trapping efficiency and HIC susceptibility of X90 pipeline steel welded joint were investigated using the electrochemical hydrogen permeation test and the hydrogen pre-charged slow strain rate tensile test (SSRT). Fracture morphology and the inclusions in the cracked area were observed and analyzed using field emission scanning electronic microscope. Local hydrogen distribution and accumulation in the microstructures were visualized using the hydrogen microprint technique (HMT). The results show that the SSRT specimens of the welded joint fractured in the weld metal under all the charging current densities. The welded joint was more susceptible to HIC than the X90 base metal. The weld metal exhibited smaller effective hydrogen diffusion coefficient D_eff, higher hydrogen concentration C₀，reversible hydrogen trap sites density N_rand irreversible hydrogen trap sites density N_ir than that of X90 base metal. Acicular ferrite (AF), grain boundaries, bainitic lath boundaries and inclusions in the X90 weld metal were effective hydrogen traps inducing high trapping efficiency. The amount of inclusions with the size>2 μm in the weld metal is higher than that in the X90 base metal. The interfaces between inclusions enriched in Al, S and Si and the metal matrix were favored sites for HIC nucleation.

Key words: X90 pipeline steel, inclusion, microstructure, hydrogen traps

CLC Number:

TG172

YAN Chunyan, ZHOU Qianwen, ZHANG Hao, JIANG Xinyi, YI Si, ZHANG Kezhao. Investigation of Hydrogen-induced Cracking Susceptibility of X90 Pipeline Steel Welded Joints[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2023, 59(24): 83-94.

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