The book presents a contemporary view of the physicometallurgical factors
affecting the fracture resistance of low-carbon low-alloy pipe steels in hydrogen
sulfide-containing media. The methods for estimating the resistance of steel to
hydrogen-induced cracking and the requirements for sour-gas-resistant
electric-welded pipes are considered.
It is shown that, to improve the cracking resistance of steel under the effect of
H2S-containing medium, it is necessary to eliminate the causes promoting the
nucleation and propagation of cracks. In addition to the cleanness from harmful
impurities and non-metallic inclusions, the microstructure, in particular, in the
central segregation zone of rolled plates substantially affects the resistance of steel
to hydrogen-induced cracking. Therefore, special attention is paid in the book to the
minimization of the negative effect of axial segregation on the hydrogen-induced
cracking resistance of steel. Methods for improving the quality of continuously cast