welding HIC resistant material

[Chumpes]

Dear All
NACE TM0284:2011 document describes HIC testing and sampling of specimen in various product forms, from plates to welded pipes [...]
With regards to welded product forms, the NACE document TM0284:2011 systematically asks for sampling into the welded zone and in the heat affected zone, in addition to specimen sampled in base metal. Once the HIC test is completed and results are within acceptable range, the raw welded material (for example a batch of welded pipes) is qualified as "HIC resistant".

Because NACE TM0284:2011 systematically asks for sampling into the welded zone and in the heat affected zone, I conclude that the welding at mill factory can increase susceptibility of the material to HIC damage.

HIC resistant materials are to be exposed in wet H2S service, thus the welding achieved on site during construction has to respect internationnally recognized documents applicable to controlling SSC damage, for example NACE MR0103 document.

My question is :
Is it necessary to qualify on site welding procedures of HIC resistant raw materials with respect to their resistance to HIC damage by performing HIC test of the weld and HAZ of production weld coupons ?
Or having HIC resistant materials (qualified by HIC testing at mill before construction) welded with application of NACE MR0103 renders the welded HIC resistant raw materials construction HIC resistant ?

thank in advance for your advice

 

[SJones]

No.
Yes.

But, let's clarify terminology. The steel can only really be classed as "HIC resistant" if the steelmaker has undertaken the steel design and the specific manufacturing techniques for it to be so. Simply picking up a piece of steel from a stockist and getting it to pass a HIC test doesn't make it, or the rest of the items from the same heat, "HIC resistant."

Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04

All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.

 

[Chumpes]

Dear Steve Jones and others
thank you for your quick answer and for the exchange we will have :

I understand that the steel maker shall have manufacturing techniques dedicated to the production of clean steels to obtain real "HIC resistant materials", also after the batch of clean products passed the HIC test, and not simply testing a random batch of materials.

Let's now consider that the steel manufacturer has done his job very well, thanks to clean steel production processes and HIC testing at mill factory, and that the different material forms are delivered on site during construction with their HIC certificate :

Should any other requirement than those found in NACE MR0103 (this document is dedicated to SSC excluding HIC) supplemented by the using of Ni<1% and low hydrogen filler metal, has to be applied to welding procedure in order to achieve HIC resistance of the assembly of HIC resistant materials ?

For example, shall the welding procedure dedicated to the on-site construction welding of HIC resistant materials be itself HIC tested ?

thanks in advance, best regards

 

[SJones]

Plumbing my memory over the last 28 years, I have a vague recollection of only a solitary company demanding HIC testing of welding procedure qualification test coupons. Since my memory is so poor, I won't take a stab as to whom I think it was.

Look at the factors involved in your scenario: the parent material is already proven; girth welding affects a relatively small portion of the item compared to a seam weld; welds being effectively castings are not so prone to HIC damage; SSC and SOHIC are more likely to give rise to detrimental consequences.

Given the last point, SSC testing is more prevalent, the evaluation of which can also simultaneously cover HIC and SOHIC and decisions taken accordingly.



Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04

All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.

 

[Chumpes]

Hi Steve Jones
I might work for a solitary company then... thank you for your valuable imputs on the subject.

I agree that SSC testing in NACE solution A would give the best set of information on SSC, HIC and SOHIC resistance !

see you