9% Ni steel has been used for LNG storage tanks for more than four decades although 5.5% Ni steel (N-TUF CR196) was developed in the 1970’s using a special heat treatment method named L-treatment. The reason why the actual application of 5.5% Ni steel has not been attained to LNG storage tanks is mainly because the requirement of fracture properties is not confirmed for the tanks. Under the circumstances of expanding demand for natural gas and double-integrity in LNG storage tanks, we restarted developing low Ni steel for LNG storage tanks by using both conventional and advanced techniques. For the application of low Ni steel to the present LNG storage tanks, both fracture initiation and propagation properties of base metal plates and welded joints should be concerned. The fracture initiation and propagation properties of base metal were compensated with the intercritical reheating process (L-treatment), and the propagation property was additionally enhanced by combining TMCP with L-treatment. In addition, the chemical composition adjustment and the homogenization treatment of solute elements were conducted for improving the fracture initiation and propagation properties of welded joints. 6% Ni steel plates were manufactured by the process of continuous casting, reheating, hot rolling, direct quenching (TMCP), L-treatment, and tempering, and their chemical composition was 0.05C-0.06Si-1.0Mn-6.3Ni-Cr-Mo. As the results of fracture property evaluation including large-scale fracture tests such as the duplex ESSO test and the wide plate tensile test, it was demonstrated that 6% Ni steel has good characteristics regarding brittle fracture initiation and propagation in base metal plates and welded joints.

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A new low-nickel (6.0-7.5%Ni) steel plate for LNG storage tanks has been developed with performance equivalent to 9% Ni steel, which has been used for LNG storage tanks for several decades. This excellent performance equivalent to 9% Ni steel was achieved by reducing the amount of added nickel, optimizing the chemical composition, and by applying the latest Thermo-mechanical controlled process (TMCP) technology to the steel plate, in order to contribute to cost savings and natural resource savings. Developed steel has been practically applied through joint research with customers and committees, and the expansion of its applications is progressing.