Unsteady state precipitation of M_(23)C_(6)carbides during thermal cycling in reduced activation steel manufactured by laser melting deposition

The temperature field distribution and thermal history of Fe-9Cr2WVTa reduced activation steel prepared by laser melting deposition(LMD)have been calculated with Gaussian and Ring laser beams,and the nucleation and growth behaviors of M_(23)C_(6)precipitates in the 1st,7th and 19th layers have been calculated using the modified classical nucleation theory and Svoboda Fischer Fratzl Kozeschnik model.The energy distribution shows W-shape with Ring laser beam while it shows V-shape with Gaussian laser beam,which results in the more uniform M_(23)C_(6)size in the same layer with Ring laser beam.Precipitates in the bottom(i.e.,the 1st layer)have the minimum size and the size increases with the layer number with Gaussian and Ring laser beams.The temperature history,the instantaneous nucleation rate and the size evolution of M_(23)C_(6)have been systematically discussed.The results indicate that the nucleation,growth and re-dissolution of precipitates in reduced activation steel depend on the amount of energy absorbed in the thermal cycle during LMD.The continuous accumulation of energy during the thermal cycle leads to larger M_(23)C_(6)at the top area.The unsteady state precipitation dynamics of M_(23)C_(6)carbides during thermal cycling are consistent with the simulation results.

Laves Phase Formation and Its Effect on Mechanical Properties in P91 Steel

Effect of Laves phase formation on mechanical properties in a pressurized T-junction of P91 steel pipe at849 K for 58,000 h with 25.65 MPa vapor pressure was studied. Thermodynamic calculations had been performed by using the software Thermo-Calc to study the phase at equilibrium state. Counter plot of von Mises stress in the pipe during service life was calculated by finite element analysis to study the effect of the operated stress distribution on the evolution of Laves phase. The change in the microstructure and mechanical properties in the sites with different stress was also studied. The results indicated that the formation of Laves phase in P91 steel was a thermodynamically possible process due to enrichment of Mo and depletion of C adjacent to M23C6 particles or along martensite lath and packet boundaries. The formation of Laves phase had a detrimental influence on the mechanical properties in P91 steel. The mean size of Laves phase would be significantly increased with increasing operated stress, leading to a reduction in tensile properties and impact energy. In particular, crack initiation energy and crack growth energy during impact test rapidly decreased with increasing the mean size and volume fraction of Laves phase.

Effect of thermal cycles on microstructure of reduced activation steel fabricated using laser melting deposition

Reduced activation steel was successfully fabricated by laser melting deposition employing a Gaussian and a ring-shaped laser.The microstructure evolution of the reduced activation steel was investigated using the scanning electron microscope,transmission electron microscope and electron backscatter diffraction.The experimental results showed that the grains close to the substrate were smaller than the grains in the upper layers.Compared to those deposited using a Gaussian laser,the samples deposited using a ring-shaped laser showed a more homogeneous microstructure.Furthermore,a finite element analysis(FEA)model was applied to reveal the thermal history during laser melting deposition.The simulation results were well validated with the experimental results.FEA results indicate that the peak temperature increases and the cooling rate decreases,as the layer gets further from the substrate.Additionally,the temperature and the cooling rate resulting from the Gaussian laser model were higher at the midline of the samples and lower around the edges,whereas those of the ring-shaped laser model were consistent with both at the center and around the edges.

Growth Kinetics of Laves Phase and Its Effect on Creep Rupture Behavior in 9Cr Heat Resistant Steel

The effects of Laves phase formation and growth on creep rupture behaviors of P92 steel at 883 K were studied.The microstructural evolution was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.Kinetic modeling was carried out using the software DICTRA.The results indicated Fe_2（W,Mo）Laves phase has formed during creep with 200 MPa applied stress at 883 Kfor 243 h.The experimental results showed a good agreement with thermodynamic calculations.The plastic deformation of laths is the main reason of creep rupture under the applied stress beyond 160 MPa,whereas,creep voids initiated by coarser Laves phase play an effective role in creep rupture under the applied stress lower than 160 MPa.Laves phase particles with the mean size of 243 nm lead to the change of creep rupture feature.Microstructures at the vicinity of fracture surface,the gage portion and the threaded ends of creep rupture specimens were also observed,indicating that creep tensile stress enhances the coarsening of Laves phase.