High-Cr Stainless Steel Pipe End Correction Seizure Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Seizure flaws are generated on the inner surface of seamless pipes during pipe end correction due to the removal of the solid alkali soap lubricant film during the correction process, especially in high Cr stainless steels like martensitic and duplex stainless steels, which affects dimensional accuracy and corrosion resistance.

Innovation Solution

A pipe end correction method that applies a lubricant film, such as an alkali soap solution or paste, to the inner surface of the seamless pipe or the plug before correction, allowing the oxide scale to remain and reducing friction during the expansion process, followed by shotblasting and acid pickling to remove the oxide scale and lubricant after correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a solid alkali soap lubricant film is applied to the inner surface of the seamless pipe before pipe end correction, then friction during correction is reduced, but the lubricant film is removed during the correction process causing seizure flaws on the inner surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction reduction during correctionVSAvoidinner surface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Oxide scale is retained on the inner surface to serve as an intermediary layer between the plug and the pipe's inner surface during correction. This intermediary prevents direct contact and seizure while allowing the correction force to be transmitted effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The oxide scale is deliberately retained on the inner surface before the pipe end correction process begins. This preliminary condition preparation ensures that the scale is present to prevent seizure during the subsequent correction operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If oxide scale is removed from the inner surface before pipe end correction, then corrosion resistance is improved, but friction during correction increases causing seizure flaws

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidfriction during correction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The oxide scale is deliberately retained on the inner surface before the pipe end correction process begins. This preliminary condition preparation ensures that the scale is present to prevent seizure during the subsequent correction operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The oxide scale serves a temporary protective function during correction, then is removed afterward through shotblasting and acid pickling. The scale is discarded after serving its purpose as a seizure prevention layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of manufacture

If shotblasting and acid pickling are performed before pipe end correction, then the inner surface is cleaned, but the lubricant film cannot be maintained during correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner surface cleanlinessVSAvoidlubrication during correction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The oxide scale is deliberately retained on the inner surface before the pipe end correction process begins. This preliminary condition preparation ensures that the scale is present to prevent seizure during the subsequent correction operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The oxide scale serves a temporary protective function during correction, then is removed afterward through shotblasting and acid pickling. The scale is discarded after serving its purpose as a seizure prevention layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents seizure flaws during pipe end correction and reduces processing load, ensuring accurate dimensional correction and maintaining corrosion resistance in high Cr stainless steel seamless pipes.

Implementation Method 1

applying lubricant at least either on the inner surface of the pipe end portion of the seamless pipe or on a surface of the plug, so as to form a lubricant film thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

shotblasting and acid pickling to remove the oxide scale and lubricant after correction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 3

shotblasting and acid pickling to remove the oxide scale and lubricant after correction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical dissolution: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2676747B1Method for correcting pipe end of seamless pipe formed from high-cr stainless steel
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
  • EP2676747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2676747B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP2676747B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The pipe end correction method of a seamless pipe for correcting an inner diameter of pipe end of a seamless pipe made of a high Cr stainless steel containing 8 to 35 mass% Cr, and 0.1 to 10 mass% Ni includes: a pipe end correction step, following hot tube-making and heat treatment, of forcing a plug into the inside of pipe end portion of the seamless pipe for inner diameter correction so as to expand the pipe end portion while oxide scale remains accumulated on an inner surface of the pipe end portion of the seamless pipe, the oxide scale being generated during the tube-making or the heat treatment; and a lubricant film forming step, prior to the pipe end correction step, of applying lubricant at least either on the inner surface of the pipe end portion of the seamless pipe or on a surface of the plug so as to form a lubricant film thereon. This makes it possible to prevent seizure flaws from being generated on the inner surface of the pipe end portion in the case of producing the seamless pipe of the high Cr stainless steel.