What is centerline segregation, and how does it occur?
Centerline segregation is a manufacturing-related defect. It refers to the uneven distribution of elements or inclusions within steel during the manufacturing process. Steel is initially produced as a liquid metal that cools and hardens during manufacturing. Tiny non-metallic particles, such as carbides, sulfides, and silicates, tend to gather in the last liquid part of the metal that solidifies, typically in the center. Later, when the steel is rolled into plates or pipes, these concentrated areas appear as bands within the material.1
What are the risks of centerline segregation?
Centerline segregation generally has no effect on the compressive strength of the pipe. However, in certain situations, it can lead to problems, such as increased cracking in corrosive environments or welding defects. This issue occurs less frequently with modern steel than with older steel.1
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Source reference
1 The Encyclopedia of Pipeline Defects, ROSEN UK, Edition 3, 2017.