Corrosion evaluation of saw welded API 5L X-80 joints in H2S-containing solution

Abstract

The H2S corrosion resistance of API 5L X80 steel and its welded joint (WJ) were evaluated using the weight loss method in a 5%wt brine solution and different corrosive environments based on a sodium thiosulphate solution (10-3 and 10-2 mol/l). The weight loss method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were applied to measure the effects of different H2S concentrations and pH (3 and 5) on the corrosion process and formation of corrosion product films. The results showed that the obtained corrosion rate and corrosion product films for both API 5L X80 steel and its submerged arc welding (SAW) WJ depend on the pH, H2S concentration and metal surface microstructural characteristics. The corrosion product film consists of two layers with different morphologies. The heat affected zone (HAZ) shows severe localized corrosion attack relative to the base metal (BM) and weld metal (WM), which is attributed to the microstructural characteristics of this region.