Fracture toughness evaluation of supermartensitic stainless steel submitted to cathodic protection in seawater environment

Authors

  • Gabriel Pieta Dias
  • Afonso Reguly
  • Telmo Roberto Strohaecker

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/5536

Abstract

Supermartensitic stainless steels (SSS) have been applied in oil and gas industries for flowline material as an alternative for both duplex stainless steels and carbon steels with inhibitor. SSS show greater toughness, corrosion resistance and weldability properties when compared to conventional martensitic stainless steels. However, when protected cathodically in seawater environment they can be susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement due to hydrogen charging. The present study evaluates the fracture toughness of SSS submitted to cathodic protection in seawater environment at a potential of steel “over-protection”. Incrementally step loading technique was used in the SSS fracture toughness evaluation. The results show a significant drop in the fracture toughness of steel in the studied environment.

Key words: supermartensitic stainless steel, cathodic protection, fracture toughness.

Downloads

Published

2013-09-30

Issue

Section

Article