Explosion Cracking Analysis of Sulfur Resistance Induction Heat Bend Pipe

Abstract

The explosion cracking reason on induction heat bend pipe was analyzed through macroscopic analysis, chemical composition analysis, mechanical properties testing, metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy and XRD. The results showed that the chemical composition, tensile test, Vickers hardness results of the straight section of the bent pipe met the requirements of the technical specifications, and the metallographic structure of the straight section of the bent pipe was pearlite and ferrite. The Charpy impact test in the neutral zone of the bend section had a low shear fracture ratio, and the Vickers hardness test results were on the high side. The metallographic structure was granular bainite. The fracture surface of the failed bent pipe exhibited brittle fracture characteristics on the macro level. The metallographic analysis and hardness test results of the crack source area showed that the fracture surface had typical intergranular propagation characteristics and high hardness values. Energy spectrum analysis of the crack source area revealed the presence of S element. The XRD analysis of the product on the inner wall of the pipe contained sulfides. The comprehensive results indicated that the failed bend pipe undergoes stress corrosion and initiates corrosion cracks on the surface under the combined action of operating pressure, additional bending stress, residual stress, etc. in a sulfide corrosive medium, the cracks continued to propagate along the grain boundaries and ultimately caused the bend pipe to explode.