ISSN 09670912, Steel in Translation, 2011, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 171–174. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2011.

Original Russian Text © S.M. Bityukov, K.A. Laev, M.N. Lefler, S.Yu. Zhukova, E.V. Kocheshkova, 2011, published in “Stal’,” 2011, No. 2, pp. 87–89.

Martensitic Steel with 13% Cr for CorrosionResistant Oil Pipe

S. M. Bityukova, K. A. Laeva, M. N. Leflerb, S. Yu. Zhukovab, and E. V. Kocheshkovab
a
OAO RosNITI, Chelyabinsk, Russia
b
OAO Sinarskii Trubnyi Zavod, KamenskUralskii, Russia

Abstract—The temperature ranges corresponding to phase transitions in the heating and cooling of L80 steel
of 13Cr type according to the API 5CT/ISO 11961 standard are determined (the Russian analog is 20X13 steel).
The influence of the heat treatment on the structure and mechanical properties of the steel is investigated. It
proves expedient to reduce the initial temperature in quenching from 1030–1040°C to 930–960°C, so as to
improve the impact strength of the steel at negative temperatures. The influence of additional alloying of
L80–13Cr steel with manganese and molybdenum on its strength and plasticity is studied. The use of steel
with 13% Cr and with 1–2% nickel and manganese is promising for lowtemperature pipe resistant to carbon
dioxide corrosion.
DOI: 10.3103/S0967091211020069

The requirements on compressor pipe and bore In Fig. 2, we show the microstructure of L80–13Cr
holelining pipe made of martensitic corrosionresis steel formed on cooling in air, in production condi
tant steel containing 13% Cr and 0.15–0.22% C are tions. This corresponds to rack martensite, with some
outlined in the API 5CT/ISO 11960:2004 standard quantity of particles undissolved during the austeniti
(strength group L80; type 13Cr). The Russian analog zation of the carbide phase.
of L80–13Cr steel is 20Х13 steel, corresponding to In Fig. 3a, we show the microstructure of the pipe
State Standard GOST 5632. Pipe of this class is used in after quenching from the recommended temperatures
fields where the oil and gas produced contains carbon
dioxide (CO2).
At present, the oil and gas industry needs pipe Heating rate 10°C/min Ac1 Ac3
made from steel with 13% Cr, characterized by resis 0.15 Heating 820°C 870°C
tance to carbondioxide corrosion at low tempera 740°C
tures. In particular, ArktikGas has established addi 0.10 700°C α γ
tional requirements on the work of fracture (impact
0.05
strength) of L80–13Cr steel in tests at –30°C: no less
than 27 J (34 J/cm2) for longitudinal fullscale samples 0.
and no less than 14 J (18 J/cm2) for transverse samples.
DSC readings, mW/mg

To optimize the heat treatment of L80–13Cr steel, –0.05

we investigate the phase transformations by differen (a)
tial scanning calorimetry (DSC). In Fig. 1, we show –0.10
curves plotted on heating to 1000°C at 10°C/min and 0 200 400 600 800 1000
cooling to room temperature at a mean rate of Cooling rate 3°C/min Cooling rate 8°C/min
0.10 Cooling
5°C/min. The temperature of maximum thermal
Change in cooling rate γ α, stage I
impact corresponds to phase transition at maximum 0.08 610°C
speed. Ar1
715°C
The thermal effect at 720°C on the heating curve is 0.06 Martensitic
transformation Ar3
due to magnetic transformation in the αphase (tran
0.04 365°C
sition from the ferromagnetic to the paramagnetic Mf
state). The following critical points are determined for 225°C
Min
L80–13Cr steel: Ac1 = 820°C; Ac3 = 870°C; Ar3 = 0.02
715°C; Ar1 = 610°C; Min = 365°C; Mf = 225°C. Note (b)
that, at the very low cooling rates employed, some of 0 200 400 600 800 1000
the austenite is transformed by the stageI mecha Temperature, °C
nism, with the formation of ferrite–carbide mixture;
the remainder undergoes martensitic transformation Fig. 1. Thermal effects in L80–13Cr steel on heating (a)
in the range 365–225°C. and cooling (b).

171
172 BITYUKOV et al.
10 μm
Fig. 2. Microstructure of L80–13Cr steel after quenching
from 1000°C in air (without tempering); ×2000.
(1030–1040°C [1]) and tempering at 680–700°C for
6 h. We see that the individual grains are relatively large
(up to 50 μm, which corresponds to scores of 5–6
according to State Standard GOST 5639); there are
carbide deposits along the grain boundaries. These
deposits account in part for the low impact strength of
the steel at negative temperatures (KCV–60 = 24 J/cm2).
In fact, as we see in Fig. 3b, the relief at the fracture
surface reproduces the configuration and size of the
actual steel grain. This indicates the presence of inter
grain fracture, as well as transcrystallite fracture.
To reduce the grain size of the steel, a lower initial
temperature is used in quenching (1000°C). This
somewhat increases the dispersity of the structural
50 μm
(a)
10 μm
60 μm
(b)
10 μm
Fig. 3. Microstructure of L80–13Cr steel after quenching
from 1030–1040°C and 6h tempering at 680–700°C (a);
corresponding fracture surface in tests at –60°C (b).
components (Fig. 4). The mean grain size is reduced
to 15 μm (a score of 8–9 according to State Standard
GOST 5639).
In tests at –60°C, the fracture is more ductile after
quenching from 1000°C and tempering at 700–
710°C; it may be characterized as quasicleavage with
elements of ductile failure (Fig. 4b). The impact
strength KCV–60 is increased to 27–30 J/cm2.
We know that reducing the actual grain size of the
steel increases its lowtemperature strength [1]. The
basic parameter affecting the grain size is the austen
itization temperature before quenching. Therefore, we
investigate its influence on the impact strength at
⎯60°C. Samples are tested after single and double
quenching in laboratory conditions. For all the sam
ples, the final treatment is tempering at 700°C.
Raising the initial temperature in onetime
quenching from 940 to 1020°C has almost no influ
ence on the impact strength at –60°C, which is
20 J/cm3 (Fig. 5a). The impact strength KCV–60
depends more strongly on the initial temperature in
the second stage of quenching (Fig. 5b). Maximum
KCV–60 is observed on quenching from 900°C (after
quenching from the austenitization temperature,
which is 1020°C). Raising this temperature to 980°C
markedly reduces the impact strength.
Tests of L80–13Cr steel in production conditions
indicate that its yield point corresponds to the upper
(a)
10 μm
(b)
10 μm
Fig. 4. Microstructure of L80–13Cr steel after quenching
from 1000°C and 2h tempering at 700°C (a); correspond
ing fracture surface in tests at –60°C (b).
STEEL IN TRANSLATION Vol. 41 No. 2 2011
 MARTENSITIC STEEL WITH 13% Cr FOR CORROSIONRESISTANT OIL PIPE 173

KCV–60, J/cm2 1000

40 950
30 (a)
900
20
10 850

Strength, MPa
0 800 C95 σBmin
900 950 1000 1050 750
Initial temperature
700
in quenching, °C
80 650
70 (b) 600 L80 σBmin
60 550
50
40 500
30 15X13H2 18X13H1Γ1
20 1000 08X13H2Γ1 18X13H2
10 950
0
850 900 950 1000 900

Yield point, MPa

Initial temperature in 850
second stage, °C 800
750
C95
Fig. 5. Influence of the initial temperature in quenching on 700
the impact strength of L80–13Cr steel at –60°C: a) one 650
time quenching + tempering (700°C, 1 h); b) first stage of L80–13Cr
quenching from 1020°C + second stage of quenching + 600
tempering (700°C, 1 h). 550
500
15X13H2 18X13H1Γ1
limit of the corresponding strength group if the second 08X13H2Γ1 18X13H2
250
quenching stage begins at 930–960°C and the temper
KCV–30, J/cm2

ing temperature is reduced to 670°C. In that case, the 200

impact strength of the steel at negative temperatures is
150
greater than after quenching from 1000°C and tem
pering at 700°C, as we see in the table. 100
Another possible means of improving the impact 50
strength is to introduce 1–2% nickel and manganese in 0
L80–13Cr steel. To explore this approach, we have pro 15X13H2 18X13H1Γ1
duced experimental steels with 13% Cr. We know that 08X13H2Γ1 18X13H2
such alloying of the steel increases the proportion of
brittle fracture, without loss of martensitic structure [2]. Fig. 6. Mechanical properties of experimental steels with
13% Cr (listed along the horizontal axis) after quenching
After heat treatment with quenching from 1000°C from 1000°C and tempering at 660°C.
and tempering at 660°C, the mechanical properties of
the experimental steel correspond to the C95 strength
group according to the API 5CT/ISO 11960 standard manganese is more resistant than L80–13Cr steel to
(Figs. 6a and 6b). Impact flexure tests at –30°C show brittle failure and meets the lowtemperature strength
that the experimental steel with added nickel and requirements KCV–30 ≥ 34 J/cm2).

Mechanical properties of L80–13Cr steel after various types of heat treatment in shop conditions

tqu, °C ttem, °C σB, MPa σy, MPa δ5, % KCV–30, J/cm2 KCV–60, J/cm2

1000 710 770 600 25 34 27

960 670 810 660 24 41 33
930 670 820 650 25 45 44
Requirements of API 5CT standard for steel of strength group L80 and type 13Cr
≥655 552–655 ≥15.0 – –

STEEL IN TRANSLATION Vol. 41 No. 2 2011

174 BITYUKOV et al.
CONCLUSIONS
(1) The temperature ranges corresponding to phase
transitions in L80–13Cr steel on heating and cooling
are determined. Thanks to the high stability of the
supercooled austenite, quenching in air is possible.
(2) Microstructural data show that the low impact
strength after quenching from 1030–1040°C and tem
pering is due to the grainboundary deposition of car
bides, together with the formation of relatively large
grains. It proves expedient to reduce the initial tem
perature in quenching from 1030–1040°C to 930–
960°C.
(3) Our results show that steel with 13% Cr and
with 1–2% nickel and manganese is promising for
lowtemperature pipe resistant to carbondioxide cor
rosion.
REFERENCES
1. Gol’dshtein, M.I., Grachev, S.V., and Veksler, Yu.G.,
Spetsial’nye stali (Special Steels), Moscow: Metal
lurgiya, 1985.
2. Novikov, I.I., Teoriya termicheskoi obtabotki (Theory of
Heat Treatment), Moscow: Metallurgiya, 1978.
STEEL IN TRANSLATION Vol. 41 No. 2 2011