US20110253267A1

US20110253267A1 - High strength steel pipe of api x65 grade or higher and manufacturing method therefor

Info

Publication number: US20110253267A1
Application number: US13/103,586
Authority: US
Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishikawa; Toyohisa Shinmiya; Shigeru Endo; Minoru Suwa
Original assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Current assignee: JFE Steel Corp
Priority date: 2001-07-13
Filing date: 2011-05-09
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: EP1325967A1; US7959745B2; WO2003006699A1; US20030180174A1; EP1325967A4; US20060201592A1

Abstract

A high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher consisting essentially of, by mass %, 0.02 to 0.08% of C, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, 0.01% or less of P, 0.002% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.7% of Al, 0.005 to 0.04% of Ti, 0.05 to 0.50% Mo, at least one element selected from 0.005 to 0.05% of Nb and 0.005 to 0.10% of V, and the balance being Fe, in which the volume percentage of the ferritic phase is 90% or higher, and complex carbides containing Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and V are precipitated in the ferritic phase. The high-strength steel pipe has excellent HIC resistance and good toughness of a heat-affected zone, and can be manufactured stably at a low cost.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/385,257 filed Mar. 10, 2003, which is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP02/07102 (not published in English) filed Jul. 12, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher which is used for line pipes, more particularly, a high-strength steel pipe having excellent hydrogen-induced cracking resistance (HIC resistance), and a manufacturing method thereof.
2.Description of Related Arts
A steel pipe for line pipes, which is used for transportation of crude oil or natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide, is required to have what we call sour resistance including HIC resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance (SCC resistance) as well as high strength, excellent toughness, and good weldability. It is said that HIC is caused by an internal pressure that is produced by a phenomenon that hydrogen ions created by corrosion reaction are adsorbed on the steel surface, intrude into steel as atomic hydrogen, and accumulate around nonmetallic inclusions such as MnS and hard second phases such as martensite in steel.
To prevent HIC, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-110119 has disclosed a manufacturing method of linepipe steels, in which by adding Ca or Ce in proper amounts relative to the amount of S, and forming fine spherical inclusions to decrease stress concentration instead of formation of needle-like MnS inclusions. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-60866 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-165207 have disclosed a steel in which the formation of island-like martensite that functions as an origin of cracking in a center segregation region and hard phases such as martensite or bainite that function as a propagation path of cracking is restrained by a decrease in amount of segregation-prone elements (C, Mn, P, etc.), soaking treatment at a stage of slab heating, accelerated cooling during transformation at a stage of cooling, etc. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-9575, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-271766, and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-173536 have disclosed a steel plate having a strength of API X80 grade or higher, in which the shape of inclusions is controlled by adding Ca to a low-S steel, center segregation is restrained by lower contents of C and Mn, and high strength is provided by the addition of Cr, Mn and Ni and accelerated cooling. All of these methods for preventing HIC are methods for preventing HIC caused by center segregation.
However, a steel plate having a strength of API X65 grade or higher is usually manufactured by accelerated cooling or direct quenching, so that a near surface region of the steel plate which receives high cooling rate is more liable to be hardened than the interior thereof, and hence HIC occurs easily in the near surface region. Also, microstructure obtained by accelerated cooling consists of bainite and acicular ferrite having relatively high HIC sensitivity not only in the near surface region but also in the interior, so that the above-described method for preventing HIC caused by center segregation does not suffice. Therefore, in order to prevent HIC of steel plate completely, measures must be taken against HIC caused by the microstructure of the near surface region of steel plate and HIC caused by inclusions such as sulfide or oxide as well as HIC caused by center segregation.
On the other hand, Unexamined Japanese. Patent Publication No. 7-216500 has, disclosed an API X80 grade HIC-resistant steel that is composed of ferrite and bainite phases and does not contain block-like bainite or martensite phases with high HIC sensitivity. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-227129 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-70697 have disclosed high-strength steels in which SCC resistance and HIC resistance are improved by ferritic microstructure and Mo or Ti is added to utilize precipitation strengthening by carbides.
However, the microstructure of the high-strength steel described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-216500 consists of bainite phases with relatively high HIC sensitivity. Also, this steel is high in manufacturing cost because the content of S and Mn is restricted severely and Ca treatment is necessary. The microstructure of the high-strength steels described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-227129 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-70697 consists of ductile ferritic phases, so that the HIC sensitivity is very low, while the strength is low. In order to obtain higher strength for the steel described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-227129, large amounts of C and Mo are added, cold-rolling is performed after quench-and-temper, and tempering is performed again to precipitate a large amount of carbides, resulting in increased manufacturing cost. The steel described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-70697 cannot achieve high strength stably because Ti is added to obtain high strength by utilizing precipitation strengthening of TiC at a stage of coiling, but TiC is liable to be coarsened by the influence of coiling temperature. Although high strength can be achieved stably by adding large amount of Ti, the toughness of heat-affected zone deteriorates significantly when the welding such as electric resistance welding or submerged arc welding are applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a high-strength steel pipe of API X65 grade or higher which has excellent HIC resistance and good toughness after welding, and which can be manufactured stably at a low cost, and a manufacturing method thereof.
The above object can be attained by a high-strength steel pipe of API X65 grade or higher consisting essentially of, by mass %, 0.02 to 0.08% of C, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, 0.01% or less of P, 0.002% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.07% of Al, 0.005 to 0.04% of Ti, 0.05 to 0.50% Mo, at least one element selected from 0.005 to 0.05% of Nb and 0.005 to 0.10% of V, and the balance being Fe, in which the volume percentage of ferritic phase is 90% or higher, and complex carbides containing Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from Nb and V are precipitated in the ferritic phase.
This high-strength steel pipe is manufactured, for example, by a manufacturing method for a high-strength steel pipe of API X65 grade or higher, comprising the steps of heating a steel slab having chemical composition described above to a temperature in the range of 1000 to 1250° C.; hot rolling the steel slab at a finish temperature not lower than the Ar3 transformation temperature to make a steel plate; cooling the steel plate at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./s; coiling the cooled steel plate at a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C.; and forming the coiled steel plate into a steel pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between Ti content and Charpy fracture appearance transition temperature of heat-affected zone;

FIG. 2 is a view showing one example of microstructure of a high-strength steel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an EDX analysis result of precipitates;

FIG. 4 is a view showing one example of a production line for a steel plate; and

FIG. 5 is a graph showing one example of heat treatment using an induction heating apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors obtained the following findings as a result of study on HIC resistance and toughness of welded part of a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher which is used for line pipes.
1) If hard second phases such as bainite, martensite, pearlite, etc. exist in a ferritic phase, accumulation of hydrogen and stress concentration are prone to occur at the phase interface, so that a volume percentage of ferritic phase not lower than 90% is effective in improving HIC resistance.
2) It is well known that Mo and Ti are elements forming carbides in steel, and the steel is strengthened by precipitation of MoC or TiC. Carbides precipitated in a ferritic phase by co-addition of Mo and Ti are represented by (Mo, Ti)C, and these carbides are complex carbides in which (Mo, Ti) and C are bonded to each other at an atom ratio of about 1:1. The carbides are very fine, smaller than 10 nm, because they are stable and have a low growth rate. Therefore, these complex carbides have a more powerful strengthening function than the conventional MoC and TIC. Such very fine carbides exert no influence on HIC.
3) In the steels containing Ti, as the Ti content increases, the toughness of heat-affected zone deteriorates. To prevent this deterioration, it is effective to add at least one element selected from Nb and V in addition to Mo and Ti and to precipitate fine complex carbides containing Mo, Ti, Nb and/or V.
4) By the above-described microstructure, both a high strength of API X65 grade or higher and HIC resistance such that cracking does not occur in a HIC test in accordance with NACE Standard TM-02-84 can be achieved. In particular, both a high strength of API X70 grade or higher and excellent HIC resistance can be achieved for the first time by the present invention.
The present invention has been made based on the above findings. The reason for limiting the content of each element will be described below.
C: C is an element for strengthening steel by precipitation as carbides. However, if the C content is lower than 0.02%, a strength of API X65 grade or higher cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 0.08%, the HIC resistance and the toughness of welded part deteriorate. Therefore, the C content should be 0.02 to 0.08%.
Si: Si is an element necessary for deoxidization of steel. However, if the Si content is lower than 0.01%, the deoxidization effect is insufficient, and if it exceeds 0.5%, the weldability and the toughness deteriorate. Therefore, the Si content should be 0.01 to 0.5%.
Mn: Mn is an element for strengthening steel and improving the toughness. However, if the Mn content is lower than 0.5%, its effect is insufficient, and if it exceeds 1.8%, the weldability and the HIC resistance deteriorate. Therefore, the Mn content should be 0.5 to 1.8%.
P: P is an element that deteriorates the weldability and the HIC resistance. Therefore, the P content should be not higher than 0.01%.
S: S turns to MnS inclusion in steel and hence deteriorates the HIC resistance. Therefore, the S content should not be higher than 0.002%.
Al: Al is added as a deoxidizer. If the Al content is lower than 0.01%, the deoxidization effect is not achieved, and if it exceeds 0.07%, the cleanliness of steel degrades and thus the HIC resistance deteriorates. Therefore, the Al content should be 0.01 to 0.07%.
Ti: Ti is an important element in the present invention. If the Ti content is not lower than 0.005%, Ti forms complex carbides together with Mo as described above, so that strengthening of steel is promoted. However, as shown in FIG. 1, if the Ti content exceeds 0.04%, the Charpy fracture appearance transition temperature of heat-affected zone exceeds −20°, and hence the toughness deteriorates. Therefore, the Ti content should be 0.005 to 0.04%. Further, if the Ti content is lower than 0.02%, the Charpy fracture appearance transition temperature of heat-affected zone is not higher than −40°, and hence higher toughness is obtained. Therefore, the Ti content should preferably be 0.005 to less than 0.02%.
Mo: As described above, Mo is an important element in the present invention, like Ti. If the Mo content is not lower than 0.05%, pearlite transformation is restrained at a stage of cooling after hot rolling, and fine complex carbides are formed together with Ti so that the strengthening of steel is promoted. However, if the Mo content exceeds 0.50%, hard phases such as bainite or martensite are formed, and hence the HIC resistance deteriorates. Therefore, the Mo content should be 0.05 to 0.50%.
Nb: Nb improves the toughness by microstructure refining, and forms complex carbides together with Ti and Mo, contributing to the strengthening of steel. However, if the Nb content is lower than 0.005%, its effect is not achieved, and if it exceeds 0.05%, the toughness of heat-affected zone deteriorates. Therefore, the Nb content should be 0.005 to 0.05%.
V: V forms complex carbides together with Ti and Mo, like Nb, contributing to the strengthening of steel. However, if the V content is lower than 0.005%, its effect is not achieved, and if it exceeds 0.1%, the toughness of welded part deteriorates. Therefore, the Nb content should be 0.005 to 0.1%.
If at least one element selected from Nb and V is contained, the strengthening and improvement in toughness of heat-affected zone are achieved.
The balance other than the above-described components is Fe. Also, other elements such as unavoidable impurities may be contained as far as these elements exert no influence on the operation and effects of the present invention.
If the ratio of the number of complex carbides smaller than 10 nm and containing Mo and Ti to the number of all the precipitates excluding TiN, which contributes less to the strengthening of steel, is not smaller than 80%, preferably not smaller than 95%, the strengthening of steel can be promoted.
FIG. 2 shows one example of a microstructure of the steel in accordance with the present invention, which is manufactured in a hot rolling mill for steel sheet (coiling temperature: 650° C.) using a steel having composition of 0.05% C, 0.15% Si, 1.26% Mn, 0.11% Mo, 0.018% Ti, 0.039% Nb, and 0.048% V. It can be verified that many fine precipitates smaller than 10 nm in size are dispersed. Also, FIG. 3 shows a result of analysis of precipitates made by an energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy method (EDX). It can be seen that the precipitates are complex carbides containing Ti, Nb, V and Mo.
Further, W is added in place of Mo or together with Mo so that the content of (W/2+Mo) is in the range of 0.05 to 0.50%. In this case as well, fine complex carbides are formed together with Ti, and hence the strengthening of steel is promoted. If the content of (W/2+Mo) exceeds 0.50%, hard phases such as bainite or martensite are formed, deteriorating the HIC resistance.
Further, if Ca is added, the shape of sulfide inclusions is controlled, and hence the HIC resistance is improved. However, if the Ca content is lower than 0.0005%, its effect is insufficient, and if it exceeds 0.0040%, the cleanliness of steel degrades and thus the HIC resistance deteriorates. Therefore, the Ca content should be 0.0005 to 0.0040%.
Still further, if at least one element selected from Cu, Ni and Cr is contained in an amount described below, further strengthening of steel can be achieved.
Cu: Cu is an effective element for improving the toughness and increasing the strength. However, if the Cu content exceeds 0.5%, the weldability deteriorates. Therefore, the Cu content should be not higher than 0.5%.
Ni: Ni is an effective element for improving the toughness and increasing the strength. However, if the Ni content exceeds 0.5%, the HIC resistance deteriorates. Therefore, the Ni content should be not higher than 0.5%.
Cr: Cr is an effective element for increasing the strength, like Mn. However, if the Cr content exceeds 0.5%, the weldability deteriorates. Therefore, the Cr content should be not higher than 0.5%.
If not only the content of each component but also Ceq expressed by the following equation (1) is controlled, the toughness of heat-affected zone is further improved. In particular, it is preferable that Ceq be not higher than 0.30% for API X65 grade, Ceq be not higher than 0.32% for API X70 grade, and Ceq be not higher than 0.34% for API X80 grade.
Ceq=C+Mn/6+(Cu+Ni)/15+(Cr+Mo+V)/5 (1)
Further, if R expressed by the following equation (2) is in the range of 0.5 to 3.0, thermally stable and very fine complex carbides can be obtained, so that strengthening of steel and improvement in toughness of heat-affected zone can be achieved more stably. In order to obtain a far higher strength, the R should preferably be 0.7 to 2.0.
R=(C/12)/[(Mo/96)+(Ti/48)+(Nb/93)+(V/51)+(W/184)] (2)
Next, a manufacturing method for the high-strength steel pipe in accordance with the present invention will be described.
A steel slab having the above-described composition is heated to a temperature in the range of 1000 to 1250° C., and is hot rolled at a finish temperature not lower than the Ar3 transformation temperature. Then the rolled plate is cooled at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./s and is coiled at a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C., and finally, a steel pipe is formed. Thereby, a high-strength steel pipe of API X65 grade or higher which is composed of ferritic phase with a volume percentage not lower than 90% and complex carbides containing Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from Nb and V which are dispersed in the ferritic phase can be obtained.
If the heating temperature of slab is lower than 1000° C., the carbides are not resolved sufficiently, so that a necessary strength cannot be obtained, and if the heating temperature exceeds 1250° C., the toughness deteriorates. Therefore, the heating temperature of slab should be 1000 to 1250° C.
If hot rolling is performed at a finish temperature lower than the Ar3 transformation temperature, the microstructure becomes elongated in the rolling direction, and hence the HIC resistance deteriorates. Therefore, hot rolling should be performed at a finish temperature not lower than the Ar3 transformation temperature. To prevent a decrease in toughness due to coarse microstructure, hot rolling should preferably be performed at a finish temperature not higher than 950° C.
After hot rolling, if the rolled plate is cooled at a cooling rate lower than 2° C./s as in the case of air cooling or slow cooling, complex carbides begin to precipitate at a high temperature region and coarsen easily, which inhibits the strengthening of steel. For this reason, the rolled plate must be cooled at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./s. At this time, if the cooling finish temperature is too high, the precipitates are coarsened, so that a sufficient strength is not obtained. Therefore, the cooling finish temperature should preferably be not lower than the coiling temperature and not higher than 750° C.
After being cooled at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./s, the steel plate must be coiled at a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C., preferably in the range of 600 to 660° C., to obtain ferritic phase and fine complex carbides. If the coiling temperature is lower than 550° C., bainitic phase is formed, and hence the HIC resistance deteriorates. If the coiling temperature exceeds 700° C., the complex carbides coarsen, and hence a sufficient strength cannot be obtained.
This coiling method for coiling the steel plate at a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C. is used when a steel plate which is a raw material for a steel pipe is manufactured in a hot rolling mill for steel sheet. In this case, the steel plate is formed into an electric resistance welded steel pipe or a spiral steel pipe by the press bent forming method or the roll forming method.
When a steel plate which is a raw material for a steel pipe is manufactured in a hot rolling mill for heavy gauge steel plate, instead of being coiled at a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C., it is necessary that the steel plate be cooled to a temperature in the range of 600 to 700° C. at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./s, and then it be slowly cooled at least to 550° C. at a cooling rate not higher than 0.1° C./s, or the steel plate be cooled to a temperature in the range of 550 to 700° C., and immediately after that, it be subjected to heat treatment at temperatures in the range of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer. In this case, the steel plate is formed into a UOE steel pipe by the UOE forming method.
As means for slowly cooling the steel plate at a cooling rate not higher than 0.1° C./s, there can be used a method in which steel plates are piled and cooled or a method in which the steel plate is cooled in a box furnace etc.
If an induction heating apparatus is provided on a plate manufacturing line, the heat treatment at temperatures in the range of 55.0 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer can be accomplished without a decrease in the temperature of steel plate to below 550° C., which does not result in decreased productivity.
FIG. 4 shows one example of an equipment layout on a plate manufacturing line.
On the manufacturing line 1, a hot rolling mill 3, an accelerated cooling apparatus 4, an induction heating apparatus 5 and a hot leveler 6 are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side. After a slab coming out of a heating furnace is rolled into a steel plate 2 by the hot rolling mill 3, the steel plate 2 is cooled by the accelerated cooling apparatus 4, and is subjected to heat treatment by the induction heating apparatus 5. Then, the steel plate 2 is corrected in shape by the hot leveler 6, and is sent to a pipe manufacturing process.
FIG. 5 shows one example of heat treatment using the induction heating apparatus.
In this example, the steel plate is kept at temperatures in the range of 550 to 700° C. by performing two cycles of heating using the induction heating apparatus. The induction heating apparatus is turned on and off so that the highest temperature (Tmax) does not exceed 700° C. and the lowest temperature (Tmin) is not lower than 550° C., by which the steel plate is kept at temperatures in the range of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer in total. The induction heating arises a difference in temperature between the surface layer and the interior of steel plate. The temperature specified herein is an average plate temperature when heat transfers from the surface layer to the interior and becomes even.

EXAMPLE 1

Electric resistance welded steel pipes Nos. 1 to 29 with an outside diameter of 508.0 mm and a wall thickness of 12.7 mm were manufactured, using the steels A to O having chemical composition given in Table 1 and hot rolled under conditions given in Table 2 in a hot rolling mill for steel sheet. Also, UOE steel pipes Nos. 30 to 35 with an outside diameter of 914.4 mm and a wall thickness of 19.1 mm and with an outside diameter of 1219.2 mm and a wall thickness of 25.4 mm were manufactured, using steel plates which were produced under conditions given in Table 3 in a hot rolling mill for steel plate. The steel plates were piled and slowly cooled to room temperature from a certain temperature. The mean cooling rate from the start of slow cooling to 550° C. is additionally shown in Table 3. Also, the UOE steel pipes given in Table 3 were expanded by 1.2% after they were seam welded by submerged arc welding.
The microstructure of steel pipe was observed using an optical microscope and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The composition of precipitates was analyzed by an. dispersion X-ray spectroscopy method (EDX).
Also, a full-thickness tensile test piece in accordance with API standard was cut out in the circumference direction to conduct a tensile test, by which yield strength and tensile strength were measured. Considering variations due to manufacturing conditions, the steel pipe having a tensile strength not lower than 550 MPa was regarded as meeting the standard of API X65 grade, the steel pipe having a tensile strength not lower than 590 MPa was regarded as meeting the standard of API X70 grade, and the steel pipe having a tensile strength not lower than 680 MPa was regarded as meeting the standard of API X80 grade.
Further, HIC resistance and toughness of heat-affected zone (HAZ) were measured. For HIC resistance, a HIC test of dipping time of 96 hours in accordance with NACE Standard TM-02-84 was conducted, and the case where cracking was not, recognized was indicated by ◯, and the case where cracking occurred was indicated by For HAZ toughness, a 2-mm V notch Charpy test piece was taken in the circumference direction in the electric resistance welded portion or the seam welded portion to measure fracture appearance transition temperature (vTrs). At this time, the V notch was formed in the center of electric resistance welded portion for steel pipes Nos. 1 to 29 and in the bond portion (fusion line) at the position of t/2 (t is plate thickness) for steel pipes Nos. 30 to 35.
The test results are given in Tables 2 and 3.
All of steel pipes Nos. 1 to 18 in accordance with the present invention were of X65 grade or higher, and had excellent HIC resistance and HAZ toughness. The microstructure of those steel pipes was substantially a ferritic phase, in which fine carbides with a particle diameter smaller than 10 nm which contained Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from Nb and V were dispersed. Steel pipes Nos. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18 using B, C, F and I steels in which the Ti content is lower than 0.005 to 0.02% exhibited higher HAZ toughness. Also, steel pipes Nos. 1 to 15 using A to G steels in which the ratio of the C content to the total content of Mo, Ti, Nb, V and W was in the range of 0.7 to 2.0 had a higher strength than steel pipes Nos. 16 to 18 using H and I steels.
For steel pipes Nos. 19 to 23 as comparative examples, the microstructure thereof was not substantially a ferritic phase because the manufacturing method was outside the range of the present invention, and fine carbides containing Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from Nb and V were not precipitated, so that a sufficient strength was not obtained and cracking was observed in the HIC test. For steel pipe No. 19, a sufficient amount of solute carbon could not be secured because of low heating temperature, and a sufficient strength could not be obtained because of lack in carbides precipitated at the coiling time. For steel pipe No. 20, since the rolling finish temperature was low, the microstructure became elongated in the rolling direction, and hence the HIC resistance deteriorated. For steel pipe No. 21, since the cooling rate after rolling was low, carbides began to precipitate from a high temperature region and were coarsened, so that the strength was decreased. For steel pipe No. 22, since the coiling temperature was high, carbides were coarsened, so that a sufficient strength was not obtained. For steel pipe No. 23, since the coiling temperature was low, the structure contained bainitic phase, so that the HIC resistance deteriorated.
Also, steel pipes Nos. 24 to 29 as comparative examples had problems of insufficient strength, occurrence of cracking in HIC test, and deteriorated HAZ toughness because the chemical composition was outside the range of the present invention. For steel pipes Nos. 24 and 25, since the content of Mo or Ti was low, sufficient precipitation strengthening was not achieved, so that the strength was low. For steel pipe No. 26, since the Ti content was too high, the microstructure was coarsened by welding heat, so that the HAZ toughness deteriorated. For steel pipe No. 27, since the C content was low, sufficient precipitation strengthening was not achieved, so that the strength was low. For steel pipe No. 28, since the C content was too high, bainitic phase was formed, and hence the HIC resistance deteriorated. For steel pipe No. 29, since the S content was too high, many sulfide inclusions were formed, so that the HIC resistance deteriorated.
All of steel pipes Nos. 30 to 33 in accordance with the present invention had a tensile strength of 580 MPa or higher, and also had high HIC resistance and HAZ toughness. The structure of steel pipe was substantially a ferritic phase, in which fine carbides with a particle diameter smaller than 10 nm which contained Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from Nb and V were dispersed.
For steel pipe No. 34 as comparative examples, since the cooling rate was high at the time of slow cooling, and the microstructure contained bainitic phase, the HIC resistance deteriorated. Also, for steel pipe No. 35, since the chemical composition was outside the range of the present invention and the Ti content was high, the HAZ toughness deteriorated.

TABLE 1

																	C/(Mo +
Steel																	Ti + Nb +
type	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Mo	Ti	Nb	V	Al	Cu	Ni	Cr	Ca	W	Ceq	V + Zr)*	Remarks

A	0.045	0.18	1.15	0.008	0.0008	0.13	0.022	0.046		0.032						0.26	1.62	Example
B	0.053	0.25	1.23	0.005	0.0004	0.21	0.016		0.069	0.041						0.31	1.14
C	0.051	0.15	1.26	0.008	0.0007	0.11	0.018	0.039	0.048	0.042						0.29	1.47
D	0.061	0.30	1.16	0.010	0.0009	0.32	0.034	0.028		0.025						0.32	1.17
E	0.042	0.26	1.09	0.009	0.0013	0.14	0.028		0.052	0.030	0.12	0.18		0.0015	0.18	0.28	0.86
F	0.047	0.14	1.20	0.002	0.0008	0.12	0.013	0.038	0.048	0.034			0.12	0.0021		0.30	1.36
G	0.050	0.21	1.25	0.007	0.0010	0.28	0.035	0.021	0.028	0.032				0.0023		0.32	0.94
H	0.032	0.25	1.06	0.008	0.0012	0.24	0.022	0.030	0.035	0.022				0.0015		0.26	0.67
I	0.060	0.30	1.22	0.005	0.0009	0.06	0.008	0.028	0.035	0.025				0.0032		0.28	2.80
J	0.055	0.23	1.24	0.006	0.0010	0.02	0.019	0.032	0.023	0.033						0.27	3.27	Compar-
K	0.047	0.32	1.33	0.008	0.0013	0.14	0.002	0.048	0.041	0.026						0.30	1.39	ative
L	0.049	0.22	1.58	0.011	0.0015	0.16	0.051	0.009	0.045	0.027						0.35	1.10	example
M	0.012	0.17	1.16	0.005	0.0008	0.23	0.008		0.034	0.034	0.24	0.31				0.29	0.31
N	0.093	0.29	1.15	0.003	0.0009	0.12	0.008	0.030	0.052	0.039				0.0024		0.32	2.80
O	0.050	0.28	1.36	0 004	0.0023	0.21	0.013	0.028	0.048	0.025	0.16	0.22		0.0018		0.35	1.12

Unit: mass %,
*: at %
Underline indicates outside the range of this invention

TABLE 2

						Cooling
					Rolling	rate	Treatment						Toughness
		Outside	Wall	Heating	finish	(after	method	Coiling	Yield	Tensile			of welded
	Steel	diameter	thickness	temp.	temp.	rolling)	after	temp.	strength	strength		HIC	part
No.	type	(mm)	(mm)	(° C.)	(° C.)	(° C./s)	cooling	(° C.)	(MPa)	(MPa)	Grade	resistance	vTrs (° C.)	Remarks

1	A	508.0	12.7	1150	910	20	Coiling	650	505	587	X65	◯	−50	Example
2	A	508.0	12.7	1150	870	20	Coiling	620	502	592	X65	◯	−45
3	B	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	635	552	642	X70	◯	−57
4	C	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	650	558	658	X70	◯	−64
5	C	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	615	542	635	X70	◯	−60
6	D	508.0	12.7	1200	880	20	Coiling	590	588	706	X80	◯	−47
7	D	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	620	608	726	X80	◯	−40
8	D	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	680	608	713	X80	◯	−43
9	E	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	635	548	638	X70	◯	−48
10	F	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	665	578	669	X70	◯	−65
11	F	508.0	12.7	1200	900	8	Coiling	650	548	652	X70	◯	−62
12	F	508.0	12.7	1150	900	20	Coiling	650	570	665	X70	◯	−72
13	G	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	635	630	738	X80	◯	−31
14	G	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	600	614	726	X80	◯	−37
15	G	508.0	12.7	1050	870	8	Coiling	600	591	682	X80	◯	−35
16	H	508.0	12.7	1150	870	20	Coiling	630	481	556	X65	◯	−27
17	I	508.0	12.7	1050	870	20	Coiling	640	458	551	X65	◯	−60
18	I	508.0	12.7	1200	800	20	Coiling	620	473	553	X65	◯	−57
19	A	508.0	12.7	950	740	20	Coiling	585	415	512	X52	X	−53	Compar-
20	A	508.0	12.7	1200	730	20	Coiling	625	483	564	X65	X	−57	ative
21	A	508.0	12.7	1200	910	1	Coiling	630	446	520	X52	◯	−50	example
22	A	508.0	12.7	1200	910	20	Coiling	725	392	458	X52	◯	−45
23	B	508.0	12.7	1150	880	20	Coiling	520	538	633	X70	X	−60
24	J	508.0	12.7	1150	900	20	Coiling	650	419	483	X52	◯	−60
25	K	508.0	12.7	1150	900	20	Coiling	635	416	483	X52	◯	−33
26	L	508.0	12.7	1150	900	20	Coiling	640	630	736	X80	◯	3
27	M	508.0	12.7	1150	900	20	Coiling	640	395	462	X52	◯	−65
28	N	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	635	540	625	X70	X	−27
29	O	508.0	12.7	1200	900	20	Coiling	635	537	658	X70	X	−40

Underline indicates outside the range of this invention

TABLE 3

									Cooling
						Cooling		Treat-	rate					Tough-
					Rolling	rate	Cooling	ment	(at the					ness of
		Outside	Wall	Heating	finish	(after	stop	method	slow	Yield	Tensile		HIC	welded
	Steel	diameter	thickness	temp.	temp.	rolling)	temp.	after	cooling)	strength	strength		resis-	part
No.	type	(mm)	(mm)	(° C.)	(° C.)	(° C./s)	(° C.)	cooling	(° C./s)	(MPa)	(MPa)	Grade	tance	vTrs (° C.)	Remarks

30	A	1219.2	25.4	1150	900	22	640	Slow	0.04	485	596	X65	◯	-45	Example
								cooling
31	F	914.4	19.1	1150	880	30	660	Slow	0.08	520	650	X70	◯	-48
								cooling
32	F	1219.2	25.4	1200	900	22	655	Slow	0.04	542	663	X70	◯	-55
								cooling
33	G	1219.2	25.4	1200	900	22	670	Slow	0.04	585	710	X80	◯	-42
								cooling
34	C	1219.2	25.4	1200	900	22	635	Slow	1	448	537	X65	X	-58	Comparative
								cooling							example
35	L	914.4	19.1	1200	900	30	650	Slow	0.08	574	706	X80	◯	2
								cooling

Underline indicates outside the range of this invention

EXAMPLE 2

Steel plates were manufactured under the conditions given in Table 5 in a hot rolling mill for a steel plate by making slabs from steels a to 1 having chemical composition given in Table 4 by the continuous casting method. After being hot rolled, the rolled steel plates were immediately cooled by using a water-cooled inline accelerated cooling apparatus, and were subjected to heat treatment by using three inline induction heating apparatuses provided in series on the manufacturing line or a gas-fired furnace. In Table 5, each temperature is an average plate temperature, and the maximum and minimum temperatures are the above-described highest and lowest temperatures at the time of heat treatment. Also, the number of cycles means the number of cycles of heating performed by using the induction heating apparatuses to keep the steel plate at temperatures in the range of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer. In the case of gas firing, the steel plate was kept at a fixed temperature.
As in example 1, UOE steel pipes Nos. 36 to 51 with an outside diameter of 914.4 mm and a wall thickness of 19.1 mm and with an outside diameter of 1219.2 mm and a wall thickness of 25.4 mm were manufactured, and the microstructure, yield strength, tensile strength, HIC resistance, and HAZ toughness were measured.
The measurement results are given in Table 5.
All of steel pipes Nos. 36 to 43, which were examples of the present invention, had a tensile strength not lower than 600 MPa, and also had high HIC resistance and HAZ toughness. The microstructure of steel pipe was substantially a ferrite phase, in which fine carbides with a particle diameter smaller than 10 nm which contained at least one element selected from Ti, Mo, and Nb and V were dispersed.
For steel pipes Nos. 44 to 48, which were comparative examples, the manufacturing method thereof was outside the range of the present invention, and for steel pipes Nos. 49 to 51, the chemical composition thereof was outside the of the present invention. Therefore, for these steel pipes, the microstructure thereof was not substantially a ferrite phase, and fine carbides containing at least one element selected from Ti, Mo, and Nb and V were not precipitated, so that there caused a problem in that a sufficient strength was not obtained and cracking occurred in the HIC test.
Even if heat treatment was accomplished by either the induction heating apparatus or the gas-fired furnace, no difference in result was recognized.

TABLE 4

																	C/(Mo +
Steel																	Ti + Nb +
type	C	Si	Mn	P	S	Mo	Ti	Nb	V	Al	Cu	Ni	Cr	Ca	W	Ceq	V + Zr)*	Remarks

a	0.050	0.19	1.23	0.006	0.0010	0.14	0.018	0.014	0.046	0.028						0.29	1.44	Example
b	0.042	0.21	1.30	0.008	0.0005	0.20	0.035	0.035		0.032						0.30	1.10
c	0.039	0.26	1.45	0.010	0.0008	0.16	0.019	0.049	0.051	0.035				0.0025		0.32	0.90
d	0.052	0.27	1.55	0.010	0.0010	0.22	0.038	0.027	0.042	0.036					0.21	0.36	0.81
e	0.063	0.32	1.31	0.002	0.0008	0.37	0.028	0.024	0.045	0.026				0.0021		0.36	0.94
f	0.045	0.21	1.26	0.008	0.0006	0.24	0.012	0.035	0.030	0.033	0.16	0.12		0.0024		0.33	1.01
g	0.045	0.24	1.19	0.006	0.0009	0.06	0.081	0.024		0.027						0.26	1.46	Comparative
h	0.055	0.16	1.28	0.007	0.0006	0.15	0.002	0.023	0.045	0.035				0.0022		0.31	1.67	example
i	0.049	0.33	1.21	0.009	0.0015	0.02	0.018	0.015		0.026						0.25	5.47

Unit: mass %,
*: at %
Underline indicates outside the range of this invention

TABLE 5

					Tough-
	Out-	Roll-	Cool-	Reheating	ness of

		side	Wall	Heat-	ing	Cool-	ing		Max.	Min.							welded
		diam-	thick-	ing	finish	ing	stop		temp.	temp.		No. of	Yield	Tensile		HIC	part
	Steel	eter	ness	temp.	temp.	rate	temp.		Tmax	Tmin	Time	cycles	strength	strength		resis-	vTrs	Re-
No.	type	(mm)	(mm)	(° C.)	(° C.)	(° C./s)	(° C.)	Method	(° C.)	(° C.)	(min)	(cycle)	(MPa)	(MPa)	Grade	tance	(° C.)	marks

36	a	914.4	19.1	1200	880	30	580	In-	650	600	4.2	3	502	597	X70	◯	−65	Ex-
								duction										ample
								heating
								furnace
37	b	914.4	19.1	1150	920	30	640	Gas-	660	—	7.3	1	532	654	X70	◯	−43
								fired
								furnace
38	b	914.4	19.1	1200	900	30	590	In-	630	580	5.5	4	515	633	X70	◯	−48
								duction
								heating
								furnace
39	c	1219.2	25.4	1150	850	22	570	In-	650	630	3.2	2	508	612	X70	◯	−57
								duction
								heating
								furnace
40	c	1219.2	25.4	1150	930	22	680	In-	680	620	9.2	5	528	646	X70	◯	−60
								duction
								heating
								furnace
41	d	914.4	19.1	1200	920	30	600	Gas-	650	—	6.0	1	604	731	X80	◯	−42
								fired
								furnace
42	e	914.4	19.1	1200	880	30	620	In-	630	600	5.1	3	648	795	X80	◯	−44
								duction
								heating
								furnace
43	f	914.4	19.1	1100	900	30	630	Gas-	650	—	4.5	1	545	655	X70	◯	−70
								fired
								furnace
44	b	914.4	19.1	1200	850	1	660	In-	620	570	4.2	3	451	548	X60	◯	−40	Com-
								duction										par-
								heating										ative
								furnace										ex-
45	b	914.4	19.1	1200	850	30	750	Gas-	660	—	3.3	1	417	526	X60	◯	−44	ample
								fired
								furnace
46	c	1219.2	25.4	1200	900	55	580	Gas-	580	—	1.5	1	427	518	X60	X	−56
								fired
								furnace
47	c	1219.2	25.4	1200	900	55	650	Gas-	750	—	6.1	1	411	497	X52	◯	−61
								fired
								furnace
48	c	1219.2	25.4	1100	900	60	400	In-	460	420	—	2	488	583	X65	X	−55
								duction
								heating
								furnace
49	g	914.4	19.1	1150	850	45	650	In-	650	600	4.3	2	634	742	X80	◯	18
								duction
								heating
								furnace
50	h	914.4	19.1	1150	850	45	650	In-	650	600	9.1	4	425	513	X60	◯	−89
								duction
								heating
								furnace
51	i	914.4	19.1	1150	850	45	650	Gas-	650	—	14.5	1	418	501	X52	◯	−58
								fired
								furnace

Underline indicates outside the range of this invention

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

heating, to a temperature of 1000 to 1250° C., a steel slab consisting essentially of, by mass %, 0.02 to 0.8% of C, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, 0.01% or less of P, 0.002% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.07% of Al, 0.005 to 0.04% of Ti, 0.05 to 0.50% Mo, at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.005 to 0.05% of Nb and 0.005 to 0.10% of V, optionally at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Cu, Ni and Cr, and the balance being Fe, in which the volume percentage of a ferritic phase is 90% or higher, and complex carbides containing Ti, Mo, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and V are precipitated in said ferritic phase;

hot rolling said steel slab at a finish temperature not lower than the Ar3 transformation temperature to make a steel plate;

cooling said steel plate at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./sec to provide a cooled steel plate;

coiling said cooled steel plate at a temperature of 550 to 700° C. to provide a coiled steel plate; and

forming said coiled steel plate into a steel pipe.

14. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

heating, to a temperature of 1000 to 1250° C., a steel slab consisting essentially of, by mass %, 0.02 to 0.08% of C, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, 0.01% or less of P, 0.002% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.07% of Al, 0.005 to 0.04% of Ti, at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.005 to 0.05% of Nb and 0.005 to 0.10% of V, W and Mo, and meeting the condition that the content of (W/2 +Mo) is 0.05 to 0.50%, wherein the content of Mo can be 0%, optionally at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Cu, Ni and Cr and the balance being Fe, in which the volume percentage of a ferritic phase is 90% or higher, and complex carbides containing Ti, W, Mo, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and V are precipitated in said ferritic phase;

forming said coiled steel plate into a steel pipe.

15. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

cooling said steel plate to a temperature of 600 to 700° C. at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./sec to provide a cooled steel plate;

cooling said cooled steel plate to a temperature of at least 550° C. at a cooling rate not higher than 0.1° C./sec; and

forming said steel plate into a steel pipe.

16. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

heating, to a temperature of 1000 to 1250° C., a steel slab consisting essentially of, by mass %, 0.02 to 0.08% of C, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, 0.01% or less of P, 0.002% or less of S, 0.01 to 0.07% of Al, 0.005 to 0.04% of Ti, at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.005 to 0.05% of Nb and 0.005 to 0.10% of V, W and Mo, and meeting the condition that the content of (W/2+Mo) is 0.05 to 0.50%, wherein the content of Mo can be 0%, optionally at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Cu, Ni and Cr and the balance being Fe, in which the volume percentage of a ferritic phase is 90% or higher, and complex carbides containing Ti, W, Mo, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and V are precipitated in said ferritic phase;

forming said steel plate into a steel pipe.

17. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

cooling said steel plate to a temperature of 550 to 700° C. at a cooling rate not lower than 2° C./sec to provide a cooled steel plate;

heating said cooled steel plate immediately after being cooled and maintaining said steel plate at a temperature of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer; and

forming said steel plate into a steel pipe.

18. A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher comprising:

forming said steel plate into a steel pipe.

19. The method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher according to claim 17, wherein the heating for maintaining said steel plate at a temperature of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer is accomplished by using two or more induction heating apparatuses provided in series on the same line as rolling equipment and cooling equipment.

20. The method for manufacturing a high-strength steel pipe having a strength of API X65 grade or higher according to claim 18, wherein the heating for maintaining said steel plate at a temperature of 550 to 700° C. for three minutes or longer is accomplished by using two or more induction heating apparatuses provided in series on the same line as rolling equipment and cooling equipment.