Various grades of weldable supermartensitic linepipe steels are available. The assessment needed to ensure suitability for the conditions to which they are to be exposed has been considered. To facilitate
efficient qualification and selection, a pre-qualification scheme has been devised, focusing on a number of elemental properties. The procedure is to be performed on base material, girth welds and seam welds (if applicable), and includes basic mechanical tests, microstructural evaluation and corrosion assessments. The scheme has successfully been applied to several weldable supermartensitic products. Based
on corrosion results obtained so far, some generalizations can be made:
• Lean grade weldments have only borderline corrosion resistance at 100 °C in concentrated chloride environments and are not suitable for sour service.
• Some sweet stress corrosion cracking may occur at elevated temperature, in particular on lean grade weldments with stress raisers.
• A proper potential range for cathodic protection can be derived.
Keywords: weldable, supermartensitic, 13Cr, linepipe, qualification