TWI is launching a joint industry project looking at the understanding and avoidance of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of welds in supermartensitic stainless steels (SMSS) in sweet environments.
Due to their susceptibility to IGSCC in laboratory tests, the oil and gas industry are concerned about employing as-welded SMSS in sweet environments.
This TWI project aims to restore confidence in the use of SMSS for transporting corrosive fluids in the oil and gas industry by achieving the following objectives:
- To develop understanding of the mechanism of IGSCC of welded SMSS pipes.
- To establish ways of eliminating sensitivity of welded SMSS pipes to IGSCC through control of welding and/or brief PWHT cycles.
For more details contact Paul Woollin at TWI Ltd. Email: paul.woollin@twi.co.uk
