Evaluación de la formación de corrosión en una junta de soldadura a tope con proceso SMAW en ambiente de cloruros

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the behavior of butt-welded joints in ASTM A106 Grade B steel pipe, welded using the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process. The study adheres to the guidelines established in the ASME B31.3 code (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2023) for process piping, in order to guarantee the technical validity of the applied procedures. The methodology included the development of the welding procedure (WPS) and the fabrication of representative test specimens. Subsequently, the samples were exposed to a chloride-rich environment through corrosion tests in brine solutions, with the aim of simulating marine conditions that typically generate a high degree of corrosiveness in metallic materials. Additionally, microstructural characterization of the welded zone, the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the base material was performed before and after exposure to corrosive environments. The microstructural evaluation was then used to analyze the relationship between exposure conditions and the performance of the welded joints. This work aims to generate technical information that contributes to understanding the effect of chlorides on welded joints in ASTM A106 Grade B steel pipes, providing analytical elements for improving the selection of welding procedures and the reliability of systems exposed to aggressive environments or marine conditions.