Sulfide stress cracking (SSC) is a kind of hydrogen related problem of pipeline steels for
transportation of crude oil and natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide. To improve SSC resistance, the
various techniques during steel making processes are required such as: addition of proper alloying
elements, microstructure control, high cleanness and Ca treatment. However, the effect of metallurgical
factors on SSC is not clearly understood in a lot of reports for improvement of SSC resistance.
In this study, SSC resistance of three high strength steel plates with different microstructures was
evaluated by using NACE TM0177A method. Failure behavior of SSC was investigated by observing
fractured surfaces using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SSC
property was discussed in terms of metallurgical parameters such as: primary microstructure, second
phases and inclusions. Results showed that in the case of steels having the same oxide inclusion level,
the hard microstructure is more resistant than the soft microstructure to SSC. SSC fracture mode is the
type I SSC. Cracks parallel and perpendicular to the loading axis were primarily related with inclusions
including Al, Ca and oxide. In particular, TiNb(C,N) with size over 2 µm as a large precipitate acted as
nucleation sites of cracks perpendicular to the loading axis and it increased SSC sensitivity.