Microstructure and properties of low manganese and niobium containing HIC pipeline steel

The paper describes the concept of using low manganese content in pipeline steels for hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) applications. The microstructure of thermomechanically processed pipeline steel primarily consisted of polygonal ferrite and low fraction of pearlite. The cleanliness of the steel was evident as was the absence of centerline segregation. The microstructure contained high dislocation density, sub-boundaries and dislocation substructures. Fine-scale precipitation of niobium carbides occurred on parallel array of dislocations and on random dislocations that followed [0 0 1]NbC//[0 0 1]α-Fe relationship with the ferrite matrix.