• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2015

Failure analysis of pre-insulated pipe (SPPS 380, 400A) transporting high temperature water ($95{\sim}110^{\circ}C$) for a plant was carried out. The damaged area (${\Phi}5mm$) of pre-insulated pipe was found only on welds. The chemical composition of damaged pipe meets specification of carbon steel pipes for pressure service (KS D 3562). As results of microstructure analysis, crack propagated from outer to inside after pitting corrosion occurred on the outside surface. The non-metallic inclusion existed on the end of crack. And the non-metallic inclusion continuously and linearly formed along with the bond line of welds. Based on SEM-EDS analysis, the nonmetallic inclusions have higher Manganese (Mn) and Oxygen (O) content but sulfur (S) was not detected. As results of water quality analysis, hydrogen ion concentration and minerals like Fe, Mg, Si were in low level. But the content of dissolved oxygen (11.2 ppm) was slightly higher than that of standard. It seems that the cause of damaged pipe is grooving corrosion due to MnO inclusion formed on bond line and corrosion took place nearby welds.