ArcelorMittal HyMatch^® steel for hydrogen transport

ArcelorMittal’s HyMatch^® steel fulfils the requirements of industry standards such as ASME B31.12 option B, and are being tested according to the latest industry guidelines.

HyMatch^® and XCarb^® steel certificates

HyMatch^® steels for hydrogen transmission pipelines can be purchased alongside XCarb^® steel certificates: our industry-first certificates which allow customers to report an equivalent reduction in their Scope 3 emissions. The certificates represent the additional CO₂ emissions reductions that ArcelorMittal has achieved from third-party audited CO₂ abatement projects in its steel production plants.

HyMatch^® properties for use in H2 environment

HyMatch^® product family includes a variety of API 5L, PSL2 grades with thermomechanical rolled delivery condition for welded pipelines which have been demonstrated to be fit for pure hydrogen environment in operating conditions.

ArcelorMittal’s products included in the HyMatch^® offer comply with the steel design guidelines provided by Appendix G of ASME B31.12:2023 for a higher fracture toughness steel. All grades show Pcm below 0.15 and 0.17 for low and high strength grades respectively. All grades in the HyMatch^® product family have fine and homogeneous microstructure and good cleanliness resulting in low risk of hydrogen embrittlement. 

HyMatch^® compatibility with hydrogen environment has been proven according to ASME B31.12 Design option B and further analyses aiming at providing a full understanding of hydrogen ingress mechanisms, its interaction with the steel microstructure and its influence on material performance.

These achievements represent a first important step for ArcelorMittal to support the implementation of a new hydrogen infrastructure.

HyMatch^® linepipe grades

Within the HyMatch^® offer, the following grades are included:

	API 5L: 2018	ISO 3183:2019	ISO 3183 ANNEX A: 2019
X42 AM FCE	X42	L290M	L290ME
X52 AM FCE	X52	L360M	L360ME
X60 AM FCE	X60	L415M	L415ME
X65 AM FCE	X65	L450M	L450ME
X70 AM FCE	X70	L485M	L485ME
X80 AM FCE	X80	L555M	L555ME

 

With the following product availability ranges:

	Max Thickness [mm]	Max width [mm]
X42 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X52 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X56 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X60 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X65 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X70 AM FCE	25.4	2150
X80 AM FCE	25.4	2150

 

Note: not all thickness and width combinations are possible. For further information, please contact us

HyMatch^® weldability

Fine-grained microstructure, low carbon content and controlled internal purity of HyMatch^® steel grades give them good weldability. Due to their low carbon equivalent and parameter crack measurement values (as recommended by ASME B31.12 Appendix G), they show a high resistance to cold cracking and acceptable in-use properties after welding.

HyMatch^® steels are suitable for manufacturing both spiral (SAWH) and longitudinal welded pipes (SAWL and ERW / HFIW). Depending on the processing method, it is possible to adjust the strip mechanical properties to match the pipe requirements.

For SAW welding, the choice of a basic agglomerated flux in combination with typical SAW wires (e.g. EA2 to EG according to AWS 5.23; alloyed with Mo, Ni and/or Ti & B) used in spiral welded pipe manufacturing is recommended to produce a weld with acceptable in-use properties in the weld metal.

Our R&D team provides weldability support with dedicated research activities, state-of the-art equipment for both welding and testing, and its expertise in numerical modelling.

(SAWH or SAWL = Submerged Arc Welding Helical or Longitudinal; ERW = Electric Resistance Welding; HFIW = High Frequency Induction Welding)