Evaluation of the influence of post welding heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of API 5L X70Q weld joints.

Abstract

Steels that meet the API 5L standard are employed in pipeline construction, and there is considerable interest in those of higher strength, such as grade API 5L X70Q. There have nevertheless been few studies relating to seamless pipes. During installation, the pipes may be welded with covered electrodes (SMAW) and may optionally undergo inductive heating for adjustment to the topography of the terrain, processes that may alter the microstructure of the joints. In this work, welded joints were obtained by the SMAW process, from seamless pipe of grade API 5L X70Q. The joints were submitted to post-weld heat treatments at temperatures of 920 and 600 °C. Tensile, Charpy impact and microhardness tests were carried out, besides metallographic characterization in specimens of base metal and in the joints, as-welded and after the heat treatments. Heat treatment at 920 °C promoted formation of a ferrite/pearlite structure, with consequent reduction in the mechanical strength of the joints to values below those specified for grade X70Q. However, heat treatment at 600 °C proved to be beneficial owing to the reduction of the volume fraction of the martensite/austenite and martensite-austenitebainite constituents, without significantly reducing the mechanical strength and with a relative gain in impact toughness in the heat-affected zone and in the fusion zone (FZ).