CORRELATION STUDY OF MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN HEAT AFFECTED ZONES OF API X80 PIPELINE STEELS CONTAINING COMPLEX OXIDES

Abstract

This study is concerned with the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties in heat affected zones (HAZs) of API X80 pipeline steels containing complex oxides. Three kinds of specimens were fabricated by varying alloying elements of Ti, Al, and Mg to form complex oxides, and their microstiuctures, Vickers hardness, Charpy impact properties were investigated. The number of complex oxides increased as the excess amount of Ti, Al, and Mg was included in the steels. The simulated HAZs containing a number of oxides showed a high volume fraction of acicular ferrite region because oxides acted as nucleation sites for acicular ferrite. According to the correlation study between thermal input, volume fraction of acicular ferrite region, and Charpy impact properties, the ductile fracture occurred predominantly when the volume fraction of acicular ferrite region was 65% or higher, and the Charpy absorbed energy was excellent over 200 J. When the volume fraction of acicular ferrite region was 35% or lower, the Charpy absorbed energy was poor below 50 J as the brittle cleavage fracture occurred. These findings suggested that the active nucleation of acicular ferrite in the oxide-containing steel HAZs was associated with the great improvement of Charpy impact properties of the HAZs.