X56 AM FCE: Premium API 5L Steel for High-Performance Pipelines

This steel is manufactured to the highest quality standards in order to meet the most stringent specifications. The reference standard is API 5L (American Petroleum Institute).

Special requirements such as HIC (hydrogen-induced cracking) resistance or high ductility at low temperature can be met to provide a solution for every pipeline project.

This steel for pipes has very high tensile strength and excellent toughness at very low temperatures and in heavy gauges. In addition, its special chemical composition with a particularly low carbon equivalent value gives it good weldability. The consistent mechanical properties of this steel improves its forming and welding performance.

Properties

General

Property	Value	Comment
Carbon equivalent (CEV)	0.43 [-]	max.

Dimension

Property	Value
Dimensions	For thicknesses over 20 mm, please contact us. Please feel free to check the figure on the right side of the material page for more details.

Mechanical

Property	Temperature	Value	Comment
Charpy impact energy	0 °C	40 J	min. \| for thickness 5-25 mm \| Transverse
Drop-weight tear test	10 °C	85 %	min. \| for thickness 5-25 mm
Elongation		20 %	min. \| for thickness 5-25 mm \| Transverse \| A50
Tensile strength		490 - 645 MPa	for thickness 5-25 mm \| Transverse
Yield strength		390 - 545 MPa	for thickness 5-25 mm \| Transverse
Yield to strength ratio		0.85 [-]	for thickness 5-25 mm \| Transverse

Chemical properties

Property	Value	Comment
Aluminium	0.015 - 0.06 %
Carbon	0.22 %	max.
Chromium	0.3 %	max.
Copper	0.25 %	max.
Manganese	1.4 %	max.
Molybdenum	0.1 %	max.
Nickel	0.3 %	max.
Nitrogen	0.012 %	max.
Phosphorus	0.025 %	max.
Silicon	0.45 %	max.
Sulfur	0.015 %	max.

Technological properties

Property
Application areas	ArcelorMittal's steels for pipes are particularly suitable for manufacturing: Straight ERW pipes of up to 26” diameter Spiral SAW pipes Spiral SAW and straight ERW pipes made with this type of steel are a good alternative to UOE pipes (made from plate from quarto roll mills) or seamless pipes. These steels are used for the production of pipes for the transport of gaseous or liquid materials such as water or oil.
Chemical composition	Notes: 1.A ratio Al/N ≥ 2 shall be applied. 2. The sum of the percentages by mass of the three elements niobium, titanium and vanadium shall not exceed 0.15%.
Hydrogen induced cracking	HIC-resistant Since the dimensions available are constantly changing, please contact us for specific information.
Other	The mechanical properties of the pipes will depend on: The Bauschinger effect, which in turn depends on The grade and chemical composition of the steel The type of pipe (ERW or SAW) The type of pipe manufacturing line The post-treatment (full body post-heating/stress relieving post-heating) that is sometimes performed by the client The angle of the weld on spiral tubes (this will influence the direction of the tensile test with respect to the rolling direction) The evolution of the mechanical properties - and in particular of the difference in yield strength between the sheet and the pipe - is specific for each process. It is therefore very important to indicate both the forming and the welding process as well as the aforementioned sheet/pipe difference. An agreement between ArcelorMittal and the client on the coil mechanical properties to be guaranteed must be reached prior to delivery of the coils. The mechanical properties listed above are those of the pipes. The minimum elongation given above refers to a 610 mm diameter pipe with a wall thickness of 12.7 mm.
Welding	The chemical composition of this steel ensures that there is no risk of cold cracking and simply applying the normal welding rules is sufficient to achieve a good quality weld. For SAW welding, the choice of an SA1 AM FCE flux/wire combination for grades up to X46 AM FCE, and an SA2 AM FCE for higher grades, should produce a weld with a coefficient greater than 1 and a good degree of toughness at the centre of the weld.

X46 AM FCE: High-Performance API 5L Steel for Critical Pipeline Applications AMPCO® 25: High-Performance Castings for Precision Engineering

Metal