Quenched and tempered fine grain steel pressure vessel plate for sour gas service

FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL offers specific properties for sour gas service. FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEELS are produced in a way to provide an improved resistance to hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) and are available with a minimum thickness of 10 mm. The special sour service properties of FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL steels are an addition to the properties in accordance with the specified standard and do not influence these. This material specification describes the steel design for the FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL series in accordance with EN 10028 Part 3: P275, P355 (N, NH).

Product description
The HIC resistance of FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL steels is verified in the HIC test in accordance with NACE TM 0284. The test can be performed with test solution A or B (see "HIC test"). The following variants can be supplied:
Note: The values are only valid for the normalized + stress-relieved (PWHT) condition.

1. with test solution A (pH=3):

2. with test solution B (pH=5)

Production
In order to achieve the defined HIC resistance the following FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL production process route is applied:

• hot metal desulfurization
• BOF converter treatment
• vacuum degassing on tank degassing unit
• desulfurization to very low S-contents
• clean steel treatment with stirring process
• inclusion shape control
• optimized casting conditions with minimization of segregation and special measures to assure high cleanliness
• high shape factor rolling (high thickness reduction)
• normalizing treatment
• stress relieving treatment on request (see "Delivery condition")

Only the combination of the above mentioned measures and the quality assurance adapted to FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL assure that the specified HIC resistance is obtained homogeneously over the entire plate, respectively heat. This is also stated in the inspection certificate.

Chemical analysis (heat analysis)
The alloying concepts of the FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL steels fulfill the requirements of EN 10028 Part 3; the limiting values for tramp elements phosphorus and sulfur are strongly restricted as against the standard. The following values are valid:
P≤0.010 %
S≤0.0010 %

Delivery condition
The plates are usually delivered in the normalized condition. To achieve the specified HIC resistance a stress relieving treatment (PWHT) after processing is mandatory. If no stress relief of the entire part after processing is scheduled (e.g. if there is no forming or welding) a stress relieving treatment of the plates, which is mandatory to obtain the specified HIC values has to be ordered.
If a hot forming of the plates is scheduled, delivery can be performed in the as rolled condition.

Mechanical properties in the normalized + stress-relieved condition
The properties of FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL 5 to 15 steel grades fulfill the mechanical requirements of the respective steel grade of EN 10028-3. Hardness values ≤22 HRC are met for the base material. Hardness measurement is not performed.

Testing/Documentation
Testing of the mechanical properties is carried out on specimens in the normalized and stress-relieved condition. Unless otherwise agreed, the stress relieving treatment is carried out at a temperature between 580 °C and 600 °C, holding time 2 min/mm, but at least 60 min and not exceeding 150 min. For deliveries in the as rolled condition the testing is carried out on specimens on which the normalized plus stress-relieved condition was simulated.

Testing procedures and documentation are in accordance with the specified standard. The subsequently described HIC test is carried out per heat. Ultrasonic testing is performed on each plate in accordance with EN 10160 class S2 + E3. The test results are stated in an inspection certificate 3.1 in accordance with EN 10204, unless otherwise agreed.

HIC test
The HIC test is performed at the DILLINGER laboratory. Unless otherwise agreed, one test is carried out per heat on the thinnest plate.

Test procedure in accordance with NACE TM 0284: The inspection test is performed in accordance with NACE TM 0284: three specimens or more (depending on plate thickness) with defined dimensions are immersed for 96 h in a solution saturated with hydrogen sulfide. In general the test is performed with test solution A. FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL 15 can be tested with solution A or B; unless otherwise indicated on the order, testing is performed with solution A.

Test solution A: Test solution A contains 5 % sodium chloride with 0.5 % acetic acid. It has a pH of 2.6 – 2.8 before saturation with hydrogen sulfide and a pH ≤4.0 at the end of the test.

Test solution B: Test solution B consists of artificial seawater. It has a pH of 8.1 – 8.3 before saturation with hydrogen sulfide and a pH of 4.8 – 5.4 at the end of the test.

Crack evaluation in accordance with NACE TM 0284: When the immersion is finished the specimens are cut to perform metallographic crack evaluation on 3 sections of each specimen. The crack dimensions are put in proportion to the sections’ dimensions and are described by CLR (crack length ratio), CTR (crack thickness ratio) and CSR (crack sensitivity ratio) values. The final test result and acceptance criteria are the averages of CLR, CTR and CSR values of the sections of all specimens from one HIC test.

Identification of plates
The marking is carried out in accordance with EN 10028.

Processing recommendations (Welding, forming, heat treatment)
For processing the general technical rules in accordance with EN 1011 shall be observed.

The weldability of FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL steels is in accordance with the specified standard. FINE GRAINED PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL steels are weldable using the classical welding processes. Other more particular welding processes like electron beam welding, laser-beam welding, electro-slag welding, electro-gas welding would require more intense studies before being applied in fabrication.

The mechanical properties of heat affected zone and weld metal depend on the welding and heat treatment conditions. Welding parameters like heat input have to be limited according to the requirements. The hardness in the weld and in the HAZ will normally not exceed 22 HRC due to the mandatory post weld heat treatment (stress relieving conditions see "Testing/Documentation"). For P355, higher stress relieving temperatures respectively holding times than those indicated in the paragraph "Testing/Documentation" may be necessary if there are particular hardness requirements (e.g. max. 22 HRC in HAZ); this should be clarified on the inquiry.

Generally it is recommended to perform welding procedure qualification tests to prove the suitability of the intended processing conditions, especially if the fabricator is not sufficiently experienced in welding of the steel type.

If the plates are hot formed, the general conditions for hot forming concerning temperature and holding time apply. To obtain the specified HIC properties, a subsequent stress relief heat treatment is mandatory.

The work hardening caused by cold deformation reduces the HIC-resistance of steels. In order to avoid such a degradation a thermal treatment in the temperature range of stress relief shall be carried out after cold forming or as a final heat treatment of the equipment. Should the cold deformation exceed 5 % we recommend to normalize and stress relieve the cold formed structure to regain the HIC properties.

General technical delivery requirements
Unless otherwise agreed, the general technical delivery requirements in accordance with EN 10021 apply.

Tolerances
Unless otherwise agreed, tolerances are in accordance with EN 10029, with class B for the thickness.

Surface condition
Unless otherwise agreed, the indications in accordance with EN 10163 class B2 apply.

General note
If special requirements, which are not listed in this specification, are to be met by the steel due to its intended use or processing, these requirements are to be agreed before placing the order.


Production process

Suzhou Vanforge Metals Co., Ltd. was set up in April 1999 with a registered capital of 230 million Yuan in Zhangjiagang Bonded Area in Jiangsu Province of China. It has developed to be an important R&D and manufacture enterprise of high performance stainless steels and nickel alloys.

Vanforge is a high-tech enterprise with 70 national patents, it has its own Special Alloy Research Center, academician workstation and post doctorate innovation practice base. Vanforge has been certificated the national laboratory accreditation of ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS18001, API Q1, IATF16949, GB/T23331, TUV, CCS, DNV, LR, ABS.

Vanforge has the international advanced special smelting capacity, including the German ALD 6t vacuum induction furnace, 6t consumable electrode vacuum furnace, 18t drawing-ingot protective atmosphere electroslag furnace and 1t vacuum induction furnace, 3t electroslag furnace, 18t drawing-hollow ingot electroslag furnace, and 2# Purification Furnace/1# Purification Furnace/LF/AOD/VOD refining production line, 25MN/8MN fast forging machine, 450/320 rolling mill, etc.

The current annual production capacity of Vanforge is 120,000 tons, and the main products are high-grade special alloy materials, including high temperature alloy, corrosion resistant alloy, precision alloy, ultra high strength steel, special stainless steel, high-grade tool and mould steel, steam turbine blades steel, gas turbine steel, ultra-supercritical materials, etc., which are widely used in aviation, aerospace, ship, petrochemical, nuclear power, electronics, steam turbine, high-speed rail, machinery manufacturing, and other fields; besides, we can organize the research and development and production of new materials according to customer demand for new materials. Vanforge has now become a qualified supplier of domestic high-end equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as CASIC, CGN, CRRC, CFHI, Wujin Stainless, Zhejiang Jiuli Hi-Tech Metals Co., Ltd., Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipe Co., Ltd., etc.

We always adhere to the concept of quality first, integrity based, scientific and technological innovation, making progress, and wholeheartedly serving customer and devote ourselves to becoming the well-known supplier of key basic materials of world’s high-end equipment manufacturing industry.

We supply following products in the forms of wires, bars, plates

(Super) austenitic stainless steels

(Super) duplex stainless steels

(Supper) Ferritic stainless steels

Precipitation hardening stainless steels

Incoloy alloys

Inconel alloys

Monel alloys

Hastelloy alloys

As well as following steel products

Gear steels

Bearing steels

Spring steels

Drilling tool steels

Free-cutting steels

Anchor steels, mooring chain steels

Mining chain steels

Die steels, Mold steels, tool steels

Structural steels

Antiwear steels

Offshore structure steels

Petroleum storage tank steels