Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

Paper no: Ostend2009-024

Mechanical properties and

microstructure of X100 grade
pipe welds
by Woo-Hyun Song, Dong-Han Seo and Jang-Yong Yoo

Technical Research Laboratories, POSCO, Pohang, Korea

O PTIMIZATION OF SEAM and girth weld properties of X100 grade pipe was conducted. The
characteristics of seam and girth welded joint were investigated with the various weld heat inputs
by analysis of microstructure of heat affected zone(HAZ). It was found that absorbed energy of X100
seam weld fusion line drastically decreased from 225J to 50J at -10℃ with the increase of heat input
from 2.5J to 4.0kJ/mm. The deterioration of fusion line toughness with the increase of heat input was
thought due to that prior austenite grain size and fraction of upper bainite increased in HAZ adjacent
fusion line. The weld overmatch ratio of girth weld decreased with increase of heat input. The optimum
weld heat input was derived as 0.6kJ/m, where overmatch ratio was 15%.

I N ORDER TO increase transport efficiency with higher pressure and transmission rate for long distance
pipeline, the high grade steel having high strength and excellent low temperature toughness is needed. API-X70
grade steel is widely applied and X80 grade steel is also used at several projects. Furthermore, many researches and
trial production of X100 steel are being undergone to develop materials and pipe making, construction, etc.
Especially, in view point of commercialization, the property optimization of the seam and girth welds of X100 steel
plate and pipe is critical issue.

In this study, optimization of seam weld properties of X100 steel pipes was conducted by changing the welding
conditions. Also, girth welding of X100 grade pipe made by UOE simulator was performed by using mechanized
Gas Metal Arc Welding(GMAW) process. Relation between microstructure and mechanical properties in weld
joints was investigated. Also, the basic factors influencing the weld toughness of X100 steel pipe were carefully
examined.

Experimental procedure
X100 steel pipes with 1m length were manufactured by using UOE simulator which can do U-ing, O-ing and
expansion at the same machine. After pipe forming, tack welding and seam welding having 3 poles inside and
outside was done. Finally, expanding process was done at the same machine. X100 steel plate was made into pipe
with 48 inches diameter. Seam welding was carried out by applying heat inputs of 2.5~4.0kJ/mm. Finally the
longitudinally welded pipe was expanded by 0.8~1.0%. Girth welding was performed by using Tandem torch-
mechanized GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) process with 0.6~1.0kJ/mm heat input. The used welding
consumable was AWS 5.28 ER 100S-G grade wire. For evaluating the welds properties, microstructure, tensile
properties and toughness of welded joint were investigated.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of pipe

Table 1 shows typical chemical composition of X100 linepipe steel. The microstructure of X100 steel consisted of
very fine bainitic ferrite having lath-like and granular type morphology as matrix and M/A constituent as second
phase as shown in Fig. 1. At optical micrograph, ferrite was simultaneously comprised of irregular and lath like

This paper is © copyright of the organizers of the Pipeline Technology Conference held in Ostend, Belgium, on 12-14 October, 2009, and of
the author(s). No copying (either electronic or otherwise), transmission electronically, or reproduction in any way is permitted without the
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2 Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

shape. These could be also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy image. In case of lath like ferrite, the
lath thickness was very small as around size of 1~2μm. The second phases were categorized as M/A and some parts
of cementite. Target strength and toughness of X100 steel pipe were set as Table 2. Yield strength of X100 steel in
plate was far below the target of 690MPa, but the average yield strength of X100 steel pipe was achieved by 743MPa
over 690Mpa as required value, the average tensile strength of tested X100 steel pipe was around 844MPa. It is
noticed that yield strength of pipe took over the target although the yield strength was not satisfied at the plate
state. As is well known, that is thought due to the large amount of work hardening occurring during pipe making
and expansion process.

Table 1. Chemical composition of X100 steel (wt %)

C Si Mn P S Others Ceq

Mo,Ni,Cu,
X100 0.05~0.07 0.2 2.0 0.01 0.001 0.46~0.48
Cr, Ti, Nb, V

(a) Optical image (b) TEM image

Fig. 1. Microstructure of X100 steel

Table 2. Summary of mechanical properties of X100 steel pipe

YS TS DWTT SA at -20C
CVN Energy at -20C (J)
(MPa) (MPa) (%)

Target 690 760  85  200

Result 743 844 100 220

Mechanical properties of seam welded joint

The macrostructure of seam welded joint is satisfied with API standard requirement as shown in Fig. 2. The
hardness distribution of seam welded joint in X100 steel pipe at 2mm position from surface is displayed in Fig. 3.
Weld metal was about 10% overmatched and softening phenomena by weld heat input occurred at around 3mm
distant from the fusion line. The amount of softening was about below 15%. Table 3 shows the evaluation results
on seam welded joint of X100 steel pipe. The tensile strength of seam welded joint was satisfied with requirement
and fracture was occurred at heat affected zone. Charpy values at weld metal and fusion line were obtained by 135
and 115 J at -20oC respectively. These Charpy impact properties could be obtained by modifying chemical
composition of weld metal and optimizing the heat input for base metal.
Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009 3

Fig. 2. Macrostructure of seam welded joint (Heat input: 3.6kJ/mm)

340

320 X100(19.8t) OD
Seam 3Pole-SAW ID
300
Hardness (Hv, 10kg)

280

260

240

220

200

180

160

140
0 5 10 15 20 25
Distance (mm)

Fig. 3. Hardness distribution of seam welded joint (Heat input: 3.6kJ/mm)

Table 3. Properties of seam welded joint

TS Location of CVN impact energy (-20oC, J)

Grade (MPa) Fracture WM FL

X100 810 HAZ 135 115

Toughness variation of seam welded joint with heat inputs

Charpy V-notch impact test on the seam weld joint of X100 pipe was performed at -10℃. When heat input
increased from 2.5 to 4.0kJ/mm, average absorbed energy decreased from 225J to 50J as shown in Fig. 4. To
examine the cause of toughness variation with heat input, microstructure of the Charpy impact test specimen was
analyzed in view of crack propagation.

Microstructure of weld metal consisted of mostly fine acicular ferrite and a little grain boundary ferrite. HAZ
adjacent fusion line was composed of lower bainite and small amount of upper bainite. It was found that the
portion of upper bainite at the near fusion line increased with the increase of heat input. Prior austenite grain size
in CGHAZ increased from 52 to 168μm as the increase of heat input from 2.5 to 4.0kJ/mm.

Microstructure of M/A constituent in ICCGHAZ is shown in Fig. 5. M/A constituents distributed very finely
along the prior austenite grain boundary. M/A size ranged from 0.4 to 7μm and its average value was 1.2μm. The
area fraction of M/A constituent was 2~3% in all tested heat inputs and this value didn’t show considerable
change with increasing heat inputs.

Fig. 6 shows observed direction for analysis of propagation path and cross-section image of upper part of fractured
specimen. For the fusion line toughness test, notch line was positioned at 50% of weld metal and 50% of base
4 Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

metal(HAZ). Considered from this notch position, it was expected that high toughness of weld metal is needed for
improving the fusion line toughness. However, when Charpy specimen was impacted by hammer, it was found that
crack propagated toward prior austenite grain boundary in CGHAZ in all tested heat inputs. This means that
fusion line toughness was not influenced by weld metal toughness but by microstructure characteristics in
CGHAZ. From these results, the deterioration of fusion line toughness with the increase of heat input was thought
due to that prior austenite grain size and fraction of upper bainite increased in HAZ adjacent fusion line.

Fig. 4. Variation of CVN absorbed energy Fig. 5. Distribution image of M/A constituent
with increasing heat input in ICCGHAZ (Heat input: 2.5kJ/mm)

Machined notch

Weld Metal

HAZ
CGHAZ

Weld Metal
Weld Metal

(a) Observed direction (b) Cross-section image

Fig. 6. Observed direction and cross-section image of upper part of fractured charpy specimen

Microstructures of girth welded joint

Two kinds of girth welding with 0.6 and 1.0kJ/mm heat input were performed for varying the overmatch ratio of
welded joint. The macrostructure of girth welded joint is shown in Figure 7. girth welding was completed with 6
and 8 passes when applied heat input were 0.6kJ/mm and 1.0kJ/mm respectively. Welding defect and distinct
imperfection didn’t observe in both welding conditions. The microstructure of weld metal is acicular ferrite and
small amount of bainite as shown in Figure 8 and this microstructure was not changed with increasing heat input.
Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009 5

(a) 0.6kJ/mm (b) 1.0kJ/mm

Fig. 7. Macrostructure of girth welded joint

Figure 9 shows carbon equivalent of weld metal and hardness of welded joint. Hardness of weld metal was
decreased with increasing heat input, when heat input was 0.6kJ/mm and 1.0kJ/mm, about 15% over-matched and
even-matched welded joint were obtained respectively

Fig. 8.Microstructure of weld metal Fig. 9. Hardness distribution of welded joint

Mechanical properties of girth welded joint

Table 4 shows tensile properties of cross weld and all weld metal. Tensile specimen was tested by sub-size round bar
shape and select location was center of weld metal. In the case of 0.6kJ/mm heat input, tensile strength of all weld
metal was about 893MPa and yield strength was 859MPa and also, when heat input was 1.0kJ/mm, tensile strength
was 798MPa and yield strength was 744MPa.

It is well known that the yield strength of girth welds is very important factor because girth welds should be fixed
until the pipe start to deform and moreover each pipe for constructing pipeline has the deviation of mechanical
properties. Therefore yield strength of girth welds is needed very high overmatch ratio for making the overmatched
welded joint in all pipes. From the results of tensile properties, tensile properties were fully satisfied with
0.6kJ/mm and 1.0kJ/mm heat input by stress based design API specification. However, for high overmatched
welded joint, girth welding has to perform with under 0.6kJ/mm heat input.
6 Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

Table 4. Tensile properties of girth welded joint (plate)

Fig. 10 shows the results of charpy impact toughness with two kinds of heat input. Charpy impact test was tested
from 20℃ to -60℃ of test temperature and notch positions were the center of weld metal and fusion line. The
toughness of weld metal had the similar transition curve with increasing heat input, the transition temperature was
under -40℃ and absorbed energy at -20℃ was over 150J in both heat inputs. In the low test temperature, weld
metal toughness was slightly increased with increasing heat input, that can be understood because high heat input
induce the lower cooling speed so hard phase reduced in the weld metal.

The toughness of fusion line was also the similar transition curve with increasing heat input. However, transition
temperature of fusion line toughness was about -30℃, fusion line toughness is decreased with increasing heat
input owing to austenite grain size coarsening.

From these results, very high yield strength is obtained as well as high toughness of girth welds when heat input for
girth welding is 0.6kJ/mm and these results fully satisfied the requirement of stress based design X100 steel pipe.

300 300
Girth GMAW 275 Girth GMAW
275 Notch: Fusion Line
Notch: Weld Metal
250 250
CVN Absorbed Energy (J)
CVN Absorbed Energy (J)

225 225
200 200
175 175
150 150
125 125
100 100
75 75
50 50
: 0.6kJ/mm : 0.6kJ/mm
25 : 1.0kJ/mm 25 : 1.0kJ/mm
0 0
-60 -40 -20 0 20 -60 -40 -20 0 20
o o
Test Temperature ( C) Test Temperature ( C)

(a) Notch position: Weld metal (b) Notch position: Fusion line
Fig. 10. Charpy impact toughness of girth welded joint (plate)

From the results of girth weldability with plates, heat input of 0.6kJ/mm is selected as the real pipe welding
condition. Fig. 11 and Table 6 show the groove shape and welding conditions for pipe and plate girth welding.
GMAW was performed with tandem torch with 0.6kJ/mm heat input and shielding gas is used 50%Ar and
50%CO2. Table 5 shows the results of tensile properties with test locations. At the upper side of pipe(2 o’clock
location), yield strength was slightly lower than the target for strain based design, however, other results were
satisfied the target. Fig. 12 shows the toughness of welded joint. Weld metal was slightly lower than the results of
plate girth welding in the 2 o’clock location, however, fusion line toughness and other results of weld metal was
very high toughness is obtained.
Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009 7

Table 5. Welding conditions for girth welding

Fig.11 Groove shape for girth welding

Table 6. Tensile properties of girth welded joint (pipe)

300
API-X100 pipe, 48'' 300
API-X100 pipe, 48''
Girth GMAW
250 Girth GMAW
Notch: Weld Metal 250 Notch: Fusion Line
CVN Absorbed Energy (J)

CVN Absorbed Energy (J)

200
200

150
150

100
100

50 50
2 o'clock location 2 o'clock Location
5 o'clock location 5 o'clock Location
0 0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10
0
Test Temperature ( C) 0
Test Temperture ( C)
(a) Notch position: Weld metal (b) Notch position: Fusion line
Fig. 12. Charpy impact toughness of girth welded joint (Pipe)

Conclusions
The conclusions of this study are summarized as follows.

 With increasing heat input from 2.5 to 4.0kJ/mm, average absorbed energy of X100 seam weld fusion
line at -10℃ decreased from 225 to 50J. The deterioration of fusion line toughness with the increase of
heat input was thought due to that prior austenite grain size and fraction of upper bainite increased in
HAZ adjacent fusion line.
 Fusion line toughness of X100 seam weld was not influenced by weld metal toughness but mostly by the
microstructure characteristics in CGHAZ.
 The weld overmatch ratio and welded joint strength of X100 girth weld decreased with increase of heat
input. It was found that optimum weld heat input was derived as 0.6kJ/mm, in which the weld overmatch
ratio was about 15% and toughness of welded joint is over 80J and 170J at weld metal and fusion line
respectively.
8 Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

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