Relationship of microstructure transformation and hardening behavior of type 17-4 PH stainless steel

The relationship between the microstructure transformation of type 17-4 PH stainless steel and the aging hardening behavior was investigated. The results showed that, when 17-4 PH stainless steel aging at 595℃, the bulk hardness of samples attains its peak value （42.5 HRC） for about 20 min, and then decreases at all time. TEM revealed the microstructure corresponding with peak hardness is that the fine spheroid-shape copper with the fcc crystal structure and the fiber-shape secondary carbide M23C6 precipitated from the lath martensite matrix. Both precipitations of copper and M23C6 are the reasons for strengthening of the alloy at this temperature. With the extension of holding time at this temperature, the copper and secondary carbide grow and lose the coherent relationship with the matrix, so the bulk hardness of samples decreases.

Effect of Aging Temperature on Erosion-Corrosion Behavior of 17-4PH Stainless Steels in Dilute Sulphuric Acid Slurry

The effect of aging temperature on erosion corrosion （E-C） behavior of 17-4PH stainless steels in dilute sulphuric acid slurry containing solid particles was studied by using self-made rotating E-C apparatus. The effect of impact velocity on EC behavior of 17 4PH steels at different aging temperatures was analyzed. Surface micrographs of the specimens after E C test were observed by using scanning electron microscope （SEM）. The results showed that under the condition of the same solution heat treatment, when aging temperature ranged from 400 ℃ to 610℃, the hardness reached the highest value near the temperature 460℃. The characteristics of E-C for 17-4PH stainless steels at different aging temperatures were as follows： pure erosion （wear） was dominant, corrosion was subordinate and at the same time corrosion promoted erosion. The effect of aging temperature on E-C rate of 17-4PH steels was not significant at low impact velocity, but it was found that E-C resistance of 17-4PH steels aged near 460℃ was the most excellent due to the best precipitation strengthening effect of fine and dispersed e-Cu phase. With a prerequisite of appropriate corrosion resistance, the precipitation hardening could significantly improve the E-C resistance of the materials.

Analyzing the Interplay of Sintering Conditions on Microstructure and Hardness in Indirect Additive Manufacturing of 17-4PH Stainless Steel

Indirect additive manufacturing(AM)methods have recently attracted attention from researchers thanks to their great potential for cheap,straightforward,and small-scale production of metallic components.Atomic diffusion additive manufacturing(ADAM),a variant of indirect AM methods,is a layer-wise indirect AM process recently developed based on fused deposition modeling and metal injection molding.However,there is still limited knowledge of the process conditions and material properties fabricated through this process,where sintering plays a crucial role in the final consolidation of parts.Therefore,this research,for the first time,systematically investigates the impact of various sintering conditions on the shrinkage,relative density,microstructure,and hardness of the 17-4PH ADAM samples.For this reason,as-washed samples were sintered under different time-temperature combinations.The sample density was evaluated using Archimedes,computed tomography,and image analysis methods.The outcomes revealed that sintering variables significantly impacted the density of brown 17-4PH Stainless Steel samples.The results indicated more than 99% relative densities,higher than the value reported by Markforged Inc.(~96%).Based on parallel porosities observed in the computed tomography results,it can be suggested that by modifying the infill pattern during printing,it would be possible to increase the final relative density.The microhardness of the sintered samples in this study was higher than that of the standard sample provided by Markforged Inc.Sintering at 1330℃ for 4 h increased the density of the printed sample without compromising its mechanical properties.According to X-ray diffraction analysis,the standard sample provided by Markforged Inc.and“1330℃—4 h”one had similar stable phases,although copper-rich intermetallics were more abundant in the microstructure of reference samples.This study is expected to facilitate the adoption of indirect metal AM methods by different sectors,thanks to the high achievable relative densities reported here.

核电站用17-4沉淀硬化不锈钢阀杆热老化微结构小角中子散射研究

17-4沉淀硬化马氏体不锈钢阀杆广泛应用于压水堆核电站中,该阀杆在高温(300～350℃)下长期服役时面临热老化脆化问题,影响核电站安全。本文针对核电站实际服役的阀杆样品,开展了小角中子散射实验,结合冲击试验、扫描电子显微镜和金相显微镜分析等,将严重老化与轻微老化的阀杆样品进行对比,研究了试样在长期热时效过程中内部nm结构的变化。冲击试验、断口的扫描电镜和金相组织图像显示,严重老化的阀杆发生了明显的脆化现象。利用多分散小球模型和Porod定律对小角中子散射实验数据进行拟合,结果表明,球形nm析出物直径约为1nm,随着热老化程度的加剧,nm析出物尺寸变大,体积分数增多约19%。小角中子散射结果与材料的宏观力学性能变化有明显的关联性。

Corrosive-wear resistance of stainless steels for the impeller of slurry pump used in zinc hydrometallurgy process

This paper presents corrosive-wear (C-W) behaviors of three kinds of steels under the simulating condition oftraditional zinc hydrometallurgy process by using a self-made rotating disk apparatus. Result shows that pure wear lossrate is significantly larger than pure corrosion loss rate. Under this C-W condition, the ranking of C-W resistance is S2 >S3 > S1 (S1: austenite stainless steel; S2: CD-4MCu duplex stainless steel; S3 :17-4PH stainless steel). S2 has excellentC-W resistance due to strong surface deformation strengthening effect of high-density dislocations of the γ phase. S3 alsohas excellent C-W resistance owing to high hardness and strength. However, S1 does not show good C-W resistanceunder strong erosion of liquid-solid slurry because of its single-phase austenitic structure and very low hardness. As aresult, duplex stainless steels as well as 17-4 PH stainless steel can be used as impeller candidate materials in the zinchydrometallurgy process due to their excellent C-W resistance and lower cost.

The effects of fabrication atmosphere condition on the microstructural and mechanical properties of laser direct manufactured stainless steel 17-4 PH

The effects of atmosphere conditions on microstructural and mechanical properties of stainless steel 17-4PH components fabricated by laser direct manufacturing (LDM) were investigated through mea-surements on phase constitution, porosity, tensile strength, fracture morphology, hardness and evolution of substrate temperature. Results showed that the samples produced in air atmosphere condition pos-sessed higher tensile strength and hardness for both as-deposited and heat-treated states than that in Ar chamber condition, due to dispersion strengthening effect of amorphous oxide particles and nitrogen solution strengthening as a result of higher content of oxygen and nitrogen. The temperature of substrate heat accumulation was higher in Ar chamber condition, leading to dramatically lower porosity and more reverse austenite, which also contributed to the lower strength and hardness.

Effect of Aging on Hardening Behavior of 15-5 PH Stainless Steel

Microstructure transformation and aging hardening behavior of 15-5 PH stainless steel were studied by optical microscopy （OM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The results showed that the 15-5 PH stainless steel consists of NbC precipitates and lath matensite with a high dislocation density after solution treatment. With increasing aging temperature and aging time, the martensitic laths were resolved gradually. Meanwhile, the nanometric-sized Cu precipitates gradually coarsened and lost their coherency with＇the martensite matrix, which exhibited an elliptical shape finally. Fine Cu precipitates can lead to significant dispersion hardening effect, while the coarsened Cu precipitates have no contribution to strengthening. The reversed austenite was observed in the speci- mens aged at 550 ℃ and above; moreover, the amount of reversed austenite increased as aging temperature in- creased. The precipitation hardening behavior of 15-5 PH stainless steel may depend on the balance between the softening caused by the formation of reversed austenite and the hardening caused by the precipitation of copper.

On the microstructure and texture evolution in 17-4 PH stainless steel during laser powder bed fusion: Towards textural design

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of metals allows the production of parts with complex designs, offeringadvanced properties if the evolution of the texture can be controlled. 17-4 precipitation hardening (PH)stainless steel is a high strength, high corrosion resistance alloy used in a range of industries suitable forAM, such as aerospace and marine. Despite 17-4 PH being one of the most common steels for AM, thereare still gaps in the understanding of its AM processing–structure relationships. These include the natureof the matrix phase, as well as the development of texture through AM builds under different processingconditions. We have investigated how changing the laser power and scanning strategy affects the microstructure of 17-4 PH during laser powder bed fusion. It is revealed that the matrix phase is δ-ferritewith a limited austenite presence, mainly in regions of the microstructure immediately below melt pools.Austenite fraction is independent of the printing pattern and laser power. However, reducing the timebetween adjacent laser passes during printing results in an increase in the austenite volume fraction.Another effect of the higher laser power, as well as additional remelting within the printing strategy, isan increase in the average grain size by epitaxial ferrite grain growth across multiple build layers andthe development of a mosaic type microstructure. Changes to the scanning strategy have significant impacts on the textures observed along the build direction, while (100) texture along the scanning directionis observed consistently. Mechanisms for texture formation and the mosaic structure are proposed thatpresents a pathway to the design of texture via AM process control.

Microstructure characteristics of segregation zone in 17-4PH stainless steel piston rod

The segregation of Cu and Ni in a 17-4PH stainless steel piston rod has been confirmed to be responsible for the cracking after heat treatment.Further investigation showed that the segregation zone was composed of three layers,namely the fine grain martensitic layer,the coarse grain martensitic layer and the coarse grain austenitic layer from the matrix to the crack surface.Three button ingots with the same chemical compositions as those three layers have been prepared to evaluate the grain size distribution,microstructure and mechanical properties.The effects of Cu and Ni segregation on the microstructures of those three layers have been explored by thermodynamic calculation.Based on the microstructure and mechanical properties results,an intensive understanding of the cracking in the segregation zone was therefore reached.

Effect of Aging Temperature on Stress Corrosion Cracking of 17-4 PH Stainless Steel in Wet H_2S Environment

The effect of aging temperature on stress corrosion crocking of 17-4 precipitation-hardened(PH)stainless steel in simulated stimulant oil well environment was studied by the method B-NACE standard bent-beam test.It is found that when aging temperature ranges from 480 to 610℃,the sensitivity of hydrogen embrittlement decreases significantly.

激光立体成形17-4 PH不锈钢组织性能研究

对激光立体成形17-4 PH(0Cr17Ni4Cu4Nb)沉淀硬化不锈钢沉积区热处理前后的组织和常规力学性能进行了研究。光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)结果表明,沉积态组织主要由板条状马氏体和分布于其上和板条间少量的第二相强化质点组成。根据合金特性,推测马氏体基体上弥散析出的第二相强化质点应该为M7C3及NbC型碳化物等。靠近基材处的沉积态组织以细长的板条状淬火马氏体为主;远离基材的沉积态组织则变成粗大的板条状马氏体。沉积态试样经过固溶时效处理后,组织变为细小均匀的板条状回火马氏体,并且基体上析出了更多的第二相强化质点,这类强化质点推测应为NbC型以及M7C3,M23C6型碳化物。成形件经过热处理后,强度、硬度略微提高,而塑性则显著增加。并且其抗拉强度和塑性均高于锻棒标准,屈服强度则略低于锻棒标准。热处理前后成形件拉伸断裂均属于韧性断裂,其中M7C3型碳化物等形成的第二相质点是微观空穴和韧窝形成之源。

Stress corrosion cracking behavior of PH13-8Mo stainless steel in Cl^- solutions

The stress corrosion cracking（ SCC） behavior of PH13-8Mo precipitation hardening stainless steel（ PHSS） in neutral NaCl solutions was investigated through slow-strain-rate tensile（ SSRT） test at various applied potentials. Fracture morphology,elongation ratio,and percentage reduction of area were measured to evaluate the SCC susceptibility. A critical concentration of 1. 0 mol / L neutral NaCl existed for SCC of PH13-8Mo steel. Significant SCC emerged when the applied potential was more negative than -0. 15 VSCE,and the SCC behavior was controlled by an anodic dissolution（ AD） process.When the applied potential was lower than -0. 55 VSCE,an obvious hydrogen-fracture morphology was observed,which indicated that the SCC behavior was controlled by hydrogen-induced cracking（ HIC）.Between -0. 15 and -0. 35 VSCE,the applied potential exceeded the equilibrium hydrogen evolution potential in neutral NaCl solutions and the crack tips were of electrochemical origin in the anodic region; thus,the SCC process was dominated by the AD mechanism.

海洋大气环境下17-7PH不锈钢的接触腐蚀研究

为了研究17-7PH不锈钢在海洋大气环境下接触腐蚀的防护问题,将不同表面状态的17-7PH不锈钢板状试样在青岛团岛和海南万宁进行1年的大气暴晒试验,对其宏观腐蚀形貌对比,并测定其疲劳寿命,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察暴晒试样表面腐蚀形貌,用光学显微镜比较腐蚀坑深度,分析海洋大气腐蚀对17-7PH不锈钢疲劳性能的影响,最后得出了17-7PH不锈钢的腐蚀防护措施。结果表明:在青岛暴晒的不涂漆17-7PH不锈钢试样表面色泽变暗,有均匀的细小点蚀,而海南的试样表面有大面积较均匀的褐色锈层,特别是17-7PH不锈钢与TC18钛合金连接处腐蚀较为集中,但腐蚀并没有降低其疲劳寿命;从暴晒试样的表面微观腐蚀形貌比较,无论涂漆与否,17-7PH不锈钢表面都有轻微腐蚀,但只局限于表层,点蚀不深,并且趋向均匀腐蚀;17-7PH不锈钢抗大气腐蚀性能很好,经钝化后可不涂漆直接在海洋大气环境中使用1年,而不会对其疲劳性能产生明显影响。