Microstructural, Mechanical, Texture and Residual Stress Characterizations of X52 Pipeline Steel

In this paper, the microstructural and mechanical properties of a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) API 5L X52 steel, which is widely utilized in the construction of gas pipelines, were characterized with optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and standard mechanical tests. The outcomes of these characterizations were used to evaluate the strengthening contributions of the solid solution, grain size, dislocations, and precipitates to the overall strength of the steel. In addition, texture and residual stresses were determined with neutron diffraction. The residual stresses were found to be low in comparison with the expected stresses due to the operating pressure. However, these stresses could contribute to the initiation and propagation of stress corrosion cracking at the outer surface of the pipe. Neutron diffraction results also suggested that the outer surface of the pipe had a texture that is expected to have a low resistance to high pH stress corrosion cracking. Both conclusions were found to be consistent with field observations.