Drill pipe tool joints are subjected in service to moderately aggressive environments (a wide range of drilling muds) and to a combination of high static and dynamic loads. Under such service conditions the high strength, low alloy, quenched and tempered steels that are used to fabricate the joints are potentially susceptible to various forms of environmental cracking, particularly hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion fatigue.

The present research has used compact tension specimens to examine the susceptibility of AISI 4145 steel to corrosion fatigue in a water-based drilling mud. The environmental variables that were investigated include potential, pH, temperature and the presence of Zn- and Cu-containing lubricants. These tests have been supported by detailed electron fractography and hydrogen measurements. Under all environmental conditions a good correlation is observed between the enhancement in corrosion fatigue crack growth rate with respect to that in air and the steady state hydrogen permeation current density.

Subject
Hydrogen induced cracking, Crack growth, Corrosion fatigue, Hydrogen permeation, Corrosion rate, Drilling fluid, Free corrosion potential, Fatigue crack growth rate, Joints, Intergranular cracking, Current densities, Steel, Hydrogen
Keywords:
Environmental cracking, corrosion fatigue, hydrogen embrittlement, high strength steels, drilling muds, effects of temperature, pH, potential, and Cu- and Zn-containing lubricants
© 1992 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1992
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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