Comparative Studies On Mechanical and Corrosion Characteristics of API 5LX60 STEEL and RST 37-2 STEEL

The tensile, impact and hardness characteristics as well as the corrosion rates of locally produced RST37-2 Steel and imported API 5L x 60 steel which is a conventional pipeline steel were studied and compared under simulated service conditions. The Mechanical tests were conducted using Tensometer, Izod impact machine and Brinell hardness tester while the corrosion behaviors were determined by measuring the weight loss of the samples immersed in different concentrations of NaCl, Na2Co3 / NaHCo3 and Na2S solutions. The locally produced RST37-2 Steel was later quenched and tempered and the above experiments repeated. The results obtained show that both RST37-2 steel and API 5L x 60 steel have the same mechanical and corrosion tendencies. The values of the properties in the as cast conditions were similar though, API 5L x 60 Steel shows, slight superiority in the corrosion characteristics but the quenched and tempered RST37-2 steel possess better values. This research work therefore recommends that locally produced RST37-2 steel can be used as an alternative for the imported API 5L x 60 steel used in oil and gas pipelines.