Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) testing of low alloy steel in sour environment: Impact of time of exposure on the extent of damage

• Published in: Corrosion science Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 1386 - 1392
• Main Authors: Kittel, Jean, Smanio, Véronique, Fregonese, Marion, Garnier, Laurence, Lefebvre, Xavier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Low alloy steel; Applied sciences; B. Hydrogen permeation; C. Hydrogen embrittlement; C. Sulphide cracking; Corrosion; Corrosion environments; Cracking (fracturing); Engineering Sciences; Environmental impact; Environmentally assisted cracking; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics; Fractures; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen sulfide; Materials; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Steels; C. Hydrogen embrittlement; A. Low alloy steel; B. Hydrogen permeation; C. Sulphide cracking; Sour gas; Hydrogen; Rupture; Cracking; Mechanical properties; Low alloy steel; Gaseous permeation; Corrosion; Environment impact; Hydrogen embrittlement; Hydrogen concentration; Hydrogen permeation; Steel metallurgy; Exposure-time; Hydrogen permeation measurements; Alloys; Permeation; Low alloy steels; Hydrogen-induced cracking; Hydrogen sulphide; Steel testing; Immersion testing; Cracking (chemical); Sour environment; Permeation experiments; Linepipe steel
• ISSN: 0010-938X; 1879-0496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2009.11.044

Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) of line pipe steel was investigated through immersion testing and hydrogen permeation measurements. At constant pH and hydrogen sulphide partial pressure ( pH 2S), the extent of HIC was found to depend on exposure time until a stable level was reached. The time to reach this stable value is affected by pH and pH 2S. Results of permeation experiments confirmed that HIC is linked with the increase of hydrogen concentration in the steel. It is also shown that low severity requires longer exposures to reach equilibrium. This must be taken into account for HIC testing in mildly sour environment.