Corrosion Resistance of Dissimilar GTA Welds for Offshore Applications

Abstract

The pitting corrosion resistance of dissimilar pipeline steel API X70 and Super Duplex 2507 Stainless Steel gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds was studied. The GTA welds were fabricated using Super Duplex 2594 Filler Metal or austenitic 309L Filler Metal. The specimens extracted from the base metal, weld fusion zone, fusion boundary, and heat-affected zones (HAZs) were subjected to a potentiodynamic corrosion test in a 3.5% NaCl water solution. The weld made using the 309L Filler Metal was found to have a smaller pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) difference between ferrite and austenite, making it more corrosion resistant than the weld fabricated using the 2594 Filler Metal. The HAZ on the X70 side was the most susceptible to pitting and galvanic corrosion for both filler metals.