Transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) is a failure that occurs on buried carbon steel
fuel transmission pipelines that are protectively coated and subjected to cathodic protection. Analysis of
failed pipelines and previous research indicate that hydrogen is involved in the cracking process.
However, the exact mechanism of crack initiation and hydrogen generation in near-neutral pH solutions
was not clear. The objective of this research was to further understanding of the mechanism of TGSCC
by determining the possible methods of hydrogen production and hydrogen diffusion into the pipeline
steel. Specifically, this research focuses on the production of hydrogen through the interaction of iron
with carbonic acid and bicarbonate. Hydrogen permeation testing and coupon exposure tests were used
to understand the role of hydrogen in TGSCC. Effect of heat treatment and microstructure of X-65
pipeline steel of hydrogen diffusion was determined.