LSAW Steel Pipe: Cause Analysis of Hydrogen Induced Crack

LSAW Steel Pipe will occur different forms of damage within a certain time, due to the use conditions and the different application environment, as well as objective conditions changes over time and few uncontrolled pipe defects.

Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) refers a type of cracking occurs when LSAW Steel Pipe containing hydrogen suffers sufficiently high applied stress or residual stress. HIC happened when the hydrogen diffusion into the interior of the parent metal, in solid solution or in the presence of a metal hydride form. This is a potential pipe damage reason. When the pipes are used in the underground, buried deep under the higher stress or pressure, sometimes in a few weeks or even few days, the pipe can occur hydrogen induced cracking.

When the pipe contact with hydrogen or a cathodic corrosion reaction, the hydrogen atom will enter into the metal pipe inside organization. Therefore, the material becomes brittle pipe. However, the pipe material will not necessarily lose ductility cracking. If apply appropriate heat treatment for the LSAW Steel Pipe, either online or offline heat treatment process, the hydrogen will out of the base material from the interior of the pipe. After this process, some of the material will restore the original strength.