Tension Tests Behavior of API 5L X60 Pipeline Steel in a Simulated Soil Solution to Evaluate SCC Susceptibility

摘要

In this work slow strain rate tests (SSRT) were used for the evaluation of API 5L X60 in contact with a simulated soil solution called NS4 in order to evaluate stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility. SSRT were carried out in NS4 solution at room temperature to simulate dilute ground water that has been found to be associated with SCC of low carbon steel pipelines. A strain rate of 1×10~(-6) sec~(-1) was used. According to the analysis of SSRT results, the X60 pipeline steel is highly resistant to SCC at the conditions studied. A combine fracture type it was observed: ductile and brittle with a transgranular appearance. Some pits close to the fracture zone were observed. The failure process and mechanism of X60 steel in NS4 solution are controlled by anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement which was revealed with the internal cracks observed in the surface fracture. There is a relation between the strength of the steel and the SCC susceptibility, thus, increasing strength in the steel, the SCC susceptibility increases as a function of the pH solution used.