The effect of the intercritical heat tretament on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the API 5L X65 steel / Influencia de tratamentos termicos intercriticos na microestrutura e propriedades mecanicas do aço API 5L X65

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

The intercritical heat treatment effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the API 5L X65 steel, widely used in oil and gas pipeline, was investigated. Many researchers have suggested the existence of local brittle zones in the intercritical heat treatment zone (haz) of C-Mn and HSLA (high strenth low alloy) steels of single and multipass welding. Beyond deleterious effect of the martensite and upper bainite, the martensite and retained austenite microstructure, named MA constituent, is usualy pointed as being responsible for the toughness degradation of some of these steels. The specimens were submitted to homogenization and normalizing heat treatments, and then they were submitted to intercritical heat treatments performed at 780 oC for 20 minutes; after that the specimens were cooled using different cooling rates. The cooling rates were equivalent to the heat input obtained with 12 mm steel plate submerged arc weld. The tension, Vickers hardness, Charpy impact and CTOD tests were conducted. Microstructure characterizations were performed by using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Homogenization heat treatment was efficient to eliminate banding and the centerline segregation. It was verified that M-A constituent is present in all intercritical heat treatment conditons, including those of high fracture toughness. The cooling rate reduction increases the amount of M-A constituent until a certain limit, then it decomposes in ferrite + carbides. It was concluded that low toughness and ductility levels are closely related with the volume fraction of martensite obtained in high colling rates or with M-A constituent with a martensite character. The intercritical condition with 19°C/s cooling rate promoted the best correlation between strength and fracture toughness. To improve the intercrictical HAZ toughness of welds, it is suggested to select a welding procedure that diminishes the proportion of martensite and M-A constituent

ASSUNTO(S)

mechanical properties soldagem microestrutura aço - propriedade mecanicas aço - tratamento termico heat treatment hsla steel m-a constituent fracture toughness

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