Role of Ca treatment in hydrogen induced cracking of hot rolled API pipeline steel in acid sour media

Abstract

The effect of Ca treatment on hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) resistance of hot rolled pipeline steel was evaluated. HIC testing was carried out in acidic condition according to NACE standard; results clearly prove that HIC resistance is very sensitive to Ca/S ratio. When Ca/S ratio is below the stoichiometric ratio, HIC occurred at mid-thickness of the steel regardless of the S content. This is closely related to the formation of spherical CaS inclusion with Ca treatment instead of MnS inclusion, which acts on crack initiation sites.