Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance to H2S in the Welded Joints of X80 Pipeline Steel

The microstructure and corrosion resistance in H2S environments for various zones of X80 pipeline steel submerged arc welded joints were studied. The main microstructures in the base metal (BM), welded metal (WM), coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ), and fine-grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) were mainly polygonal ferrite and granular bainite; acicular ferrite with fine grains; granular bainite, ferrite, and martensite/austenite constituents, respectively. The corrosion behavior differences resulted from the microstructure gradients. The results of the micro-morphologies of the corrosion product films and the electrochemical corrosion characteristics in H2S environments, including open circuit potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, showed that the order of corrosion resistance was FGHAZ > BM > WM > CGHAZ.