Assessing the Susceptibility of Existing Pipelines to Hydrogen Embrittlement
T. Boot (TU Delft - Team Vera Popovich)
A. C. Riemslag (TU Delft - Team Vera Popovich)
T.E. Reinton (TU Delft - Team Vera Popovich)
Ping Liu (IntecSea BV)
C.L. Walters (TU Delft - Ship Hydromechanics and Structures)
Popovich Popovich (TU Delft - Team Vera Popovich)
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Abstract
With fossil fuels being phased out and growing global interest in a hydrogen economy, there is demand for re-purposing existing pipelines for transportation of hydrogen gas. However, hydrogen embrittlement (HE) can limit pipeline steel’s performance. In this study, the effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of an X60 base metal (polygonal ferrite/pearlite) and its girth weld (acicular ferrite/pearlite) was measured with a novel slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test in which hollow pipe-like specimens were internally pressurised with nitrogen and hydrogen gas from 0 to 100 bars. Results showed that exposure to H2 gas at 100 bars reduced the ductility of the base metal by up to 40% and the weld metal by 14%. Reduction in cross-sectional area (%RA) reduced by up to 28% in the base metal and 11% in the weld metal. Fracture surface analysis showed micro-void coalescence as well as quasi-cleavage fracture characteristic of HE. Susceptibility to HE was also observed in the form of secondary longitudinal and internal transverse cracks.