API 5L X42 (L290) Pipeline Steel: Performance Characteristics and Application Analysis

Concept

API 5L X42 (also known as L290) is a medium-strength pipeline steel that meets the standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API 5L). It is mainly used for long-distance pipelines for oil, natural gas and other fluids. The "X42" in its name indicates that the minimum yield strength is 42 ksi (about 290 MPa), which belongs to PSL1 (normal service level) or PSL2 (high service level) steel in the API 5L standard.

Features

Higher strength: yield strength ≥290 MPa, tensile strength ≥415 MPa, suitable for medium and high pressure transmission environment.

Good weldability: low carbon equivalent (CE) design makes it suitable for a variety of welding processes, such as submerged arc welding (SAW) and manual arc welding (SMAW).

Excellent low-temperature toughness: through microalloying and controlled rolling process, it can maintain good brittle crack resistance in low temperature environment.

Corrosion resistance: The life of the pipeline can be extended by external anti-corrosion coating (such as 3PE) and cathodic protection system.

Economic efficiency: A balance between strength and cost, widely used in land and shallow sea pipelines.

Delivery status

Hot Rolled (HR): Suitable for general use, low cost.

Normalized (N): Improves uniformity of structure and toughness.

Controlled rolling and controlled cooling (TMCP): Optimizes performance by precisely controlling rolling temperature and cooling rate, suitable for high-cold or high-pressure environments.

Application

Oil and natural gas transportation: medium and high pressure trunk lines of land and shallow sea pipelines.

Urban gas pipeline network: medium pressure transmission and distribution system.

Structural support: Support structure of some oil drilling platforms and storage tanks.

Industrial pipelines: Fluid transportation in chemical, water and other fields.