Most pipelines are exposed to severe operational conditions and sour environments that might lead to hydrogen entry in steels. The existence of weld joints can affect the service life of these tubes, acting as preferential areas for incidence of hydrogen embrittlement, due to residual stress and microstructure. There is a great concern to understand the influence of each region of the weld joint on hydrogen induced crack initiation and propagation. Formation of iron sulphide film on the steel surface plays an important role on this process. This study investigates the behavior of an API X80 steel, base metal and weld joint, in relation to hydrogen absorption and embrittlement in H2S environments. Slow strain rate tests, and iron sulphide film analysis were conducted aiming to determine the influence of each region on the loss of ductility. Particularly, focusing on the reproducibility of tests carried out in weld joints due to different fracture susceptibility and film formation ability of the weld joint regions. It was observed that the loss of ductility and the iron sulphide film morphology, and the promoted barrier effect against hydrogen, are dependent on the weld joint area considered.

Subject
Hydrogen embrittlement, Iron sulfide films, Microstructure, Iron sulfides, Base metals, Welded joints, Surface analysis, Film formation, Steel, Ports and harbors, Fracture, Hydrogen, Samples
Keywords:
weld joint, hydrogen embrittlement, sour corrosion, SSRT, iron sulphide, surface analysis
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2019
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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