Avaliação microestrutural e das propriedades mecânicas em juntas soldadas de aços API 5L X80 utilizados para transporte de petróleo e gás usando processo de soldagem robotizado.

Abstract

In Brazil, the welding pipes still uses manual processes with coated electrodes, however, research has grown to implementing more productive processes, and complying with the requirements of specific rules. Robotic welding processes are in use in Sweden, USA, Canada, Russia and China, with a considerable increase in productivity, and higher quality welds surface. The use of automated welding processes increase the productivity, and promote better control of the welding parameters, and microstructural changes, and consequently, better mechanical properties of the welded joint. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fracture toughness of API 5L X80 steel welded joints with thickness for 19 mm, used for oil and gas transmission, when subjected to robotic welding in the flat and vertical upward positions using arc electric welding process with solid wire for the root pass (ER 120S-G), and tubular wire for the filler passes and finishing, using flux- cored wire (E101T-1) and Ar + 25% CO2 as shielding gas and self-protected wire (E91T8-G). For this, CTOD specimens with all notched located in HAZ were prepared and submitted to metalographic and microhardness test were also done to observe the resulting microstructure and hardness value in the region of the crack, using optical and scanning microscopy analysis. The microstructural analysis in the ZTA of the specimen for all procedures indicated the presence of Bainite and Acicular Ferrite, except those obtained in flat position using the Flux-Cored Self-Shielded welding process which also presented Primary Ferrite. The results of fracture toughness test indicated that the welding in a flat position presented the most superior CTOD values. The robotic welding procedures in the flat position using Flux-Cored SelfShielded welding process showed the best result in terms of the fatigue pre-crack growth, with profile in the central region of rounded shape, unlike flat shape in the robotic welding procedures in the flat position using Flux-Cored and Ar + 25% CO2 as shielding gas.