Significance of Alloying Element Levels in Realizing the Specified Tensile Properties in 18 Wt % Nickel Maraging Steel

Among the various grades of commercially available 18 wt. % nickel maraging steels, the one with nominal 0.2% proof strength in the range 1700-1750 MPa is the most commonly used and is distinguished by an excellent combination of high strength and high fracture toughness. The main alloying elements are nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and titanium. The first three of these are present at relatively high concentrations in the chemical composition. The high cost of these metals leads to a high cost of production and this becomes a deterrent to extensive use of the steel. In the present study, an attempt was made to produce the steel by pegging the levels of these alloying elements in the lower half of the specified range. The objective was to save on the raw material cost, while still conforming to the specification. The steel so produced could not, however, attain the specified tensile properties after final heat treatment. The observed behavior is explained based on the role played by the different alloying elements in driving the precipitation hardening reaction.

Effect of Mn Content on Microstructure and Cryogenic Mechanical Properties of a 7%Ni Steel

The effect of Mn content on the microstructure and cryogenic mechanical properties of a 7% Ni steel was investigated within the Mn content range from 0.13% to 0.36%. The microstructure of the steel as determined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron backscattering diffraction and X-ray diffraction was presented, and the low-temperature mechanical properties were given. The size of prior austenite grain did not change a lot as Mn content increased. Film-like reversed austenite, having high stability, was found mainly in the specimens with lower Mn content; however, in the specimen with the highest Mn content, the role of Mn was not obvious in stabilizing reversed austenite. Besides, with increasing Mn content, the amount of reversed austenite at grain boundaries gradually decreased. The variable Mn content had a significant effect on cryogenic toughness~ but not apparent on cryogenic tensile strength or yield strength. An excellent combination of cryogenic tensile and impact properties was obtained when Mn content of steel was 0.13%.

Influence of Nb Content on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a 7%Ni Steel

The influence of Nb content on the microstructure and cryogenic mechanical properties of a 7%Ni steel was investigated within the Nb content range from 0 to 0.05%. The microstructure was characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the low-temperature mechanical property tests were conducted. The Nb addition can effectively refine the prior austenite grains and microstructure of the steel. Fine niobium precipitates with a diameter of about 10-50 nm were observed. They tend to be spherical and locate mainly in the vicinity of grain boundaries. Although there are considerable amounts of reversed austenite forming at grain boundaries in the specimen containing the highest Nb content, no Nb element was detected in such reversed austenite, which implies that Nb element did not affect the formation of the reversed austenite directly. Mechanical test results suggest that the strength of the 7%Ni steel is not simply in relation to the prior austenite grain size, but also depends on the amount of reversed austenite. On the other hand, the grain refinement, enhanced with increasing Nb content, has a good effect on cryogenic toughness.

Microstructure and corrosion behaviour of gas tungsten arc welds of maraging steel

Superior properties of maraging steels make them suitable for the fabrication of components used for military applications like missile covering, rocket motor casing and ship hulls. Welding is the main process for fabrication of these components, while the maraging steels can be fusion welded using gas tungsten arc welding(GTAW) process. All these fabricated components require longer storage life and a major problem in welds is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking(SCC). The present study is aimed at studying the SCC behaviour of MDN 250(18% Ni) steel and its welds with respect to microstructural changes. In the present study, 5.2 mm thick sheets made of MDN 250 steel in the solution annealed condition was welded using GTAW process. Post-weld heat treatments of direct ageing(480 C for 3 h), solutionizing(815 C for 1 h) followed by ageing and homogenizing(1150 C for 1 h) followed by ageing were carried out. A mixture of martensite and austenite was observed in the microstructure of the fusion zone of solutionized and direct aged welds and only martensite in as-welded condition. Homogenization and ageing treatment have eliminated reverted austenite and elemental segregation. Homogenized welds also exhibited a marginal improvement in the corrosion resistance compared to those in the as-welded, solutionized and aged condition. Constant load SCC test data clearly revealed that the failure time of homogenized weld is much longer compared to other post weld treatments, and the homogenization treatment is recommended to improve the SCC life of GTA welds of MDN 250 Maraging steel.

LNG用7%Ni钢快速回火工艺模拟

采用淬火膨胀仪模拟研究了LNG用7%Ni钢淬火后快速加热回火工艺,结合显微组织观察以及对回火冷却过程中膨胀曲线的分析,讨论了该工艺对钢中逆转变奥氏体含量及其稳定性的影响。结果表明,提高淬火终冷温度能显著增加组织中逆转变奥氏体的含量,且其在基体上的分布也更为均匀,但当淬火终冷温度提高至300℃时,淬火组织中残留了大量的残余奥氏体,经快速加热回火后虽然保留在组织中,但其稳定性较差,导致冷却后的最终组织中出现大量的岛状M/A。回火前的快速加热一方面抑制了残余奥氏体在加热过程中发生分解,同时也有利于碳原子在较短的时间内扩散至其中,因此不但能促进钢中逆转变奥氏体含量的增加,也有利于其稳定性的提高。

LNG储罐用新型7%Ni钢的研制

中国镍资源贫乏,为节约LNG储罐建造资本,开发研制储罐用新一代低镍钢具有重要意义。通过试验测试分析了新一代低镍型7%Ni钢母材性能及其焊接性能,结果表明:7%Ni钢板抗拉强度主要分布在690~730 MPa,-196℃低温冲击功为150~200 J,钢板强韧性优良;焊接接头抗拉强度不低于690 MPa,焊缝和热影响区冲击功不小于80 J,母材、热影响区等位置硬度不大于340HV10,焊接接头综合性能良好。LNG储罐用新型7%Ni钢板性能满足技术指标要求,能够达到LNG储罐制造和焊接要求。(图6,表6,参20)

Effect of Tempering Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steel Containing Ni of 9%

Mechanical properties of quenching,intercritical quenching and tempering （QLT） treated steel containing Ni of 9% were evaluated from specimens subject to various tempering temperatures. The detailed microstructures of steel containing Ni of 9% at different tempering temperatures were observed by optical microscope （OM） and transmission electron microscope （TEM）. The volume fraction of austenite was estimated by XRD. The results show that high strength and cryogenic toughness of steel containing Ni of 9% are obtained when the tempering temperature are between 540 and 580 ℃. The microstructure keeps the dual phase lamellar structure after the intercritical quenching and there is cementite created in the Ni-rich constituents when tempering temperature is 540 ℃. When tempering temperatures are between 560 and 580 ℃,the reversed austenites （γ′） grow up and the dual phase lamellar structure is not clear. The γ′ becomes instable at 600 ℃. When tempered at temperature ranging from 500 to 520 ℃,the increase of dislocation density in the lamellar matrix makes both tensile strength and yield strength decrease. When tempered at 540 ℃ and higher temperature,the yield strength decreases continuously because the C and alloying elements in the matrix are absorbed by the cementite and the γ′,so the yield ratio is decreased by the γ′. There are two toughness mechanisms at different tempering temperatures. One is that the precipitation of cementite absorbs the carbon in the steel which plays a major role in improving cryogenic toughness at lower temperature. Another is that the γ′ and the purified matrix become major role at higher tempering temperature. When the tempering temperature is 600 ℃,the stability of γ′ is decreased quickly,even the transformation takes place at room temperature,which results in a sharp decrease of Charpy-V impact energy at 77 K. The tempering temperature range is enlarged by the special distribution of cementite and the lamellar structure.

Influence of cerium on hot workability of 00Cr25Ni7Mo4N super duplex stainless steel

The effect of Ce on hot workability of 00Cr25Ni7Mo4N steel melted in vacuum induction furnace was studied by Gleeble thermal simulation machine and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results showed that ductility of the steel with Ce addition was increased significantly because of increasing content of austenite,segregation of Ce at grain boundaries and modification of inclusion.The optimum range of Ce content in the steel was 0.030 wt.%-0.047 wt.%,and the optimum value was about 0.047 wt.%.The effect of...

The Influence of Welding Parameters on Brittle Fracture of Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Tank Welded Joint

Many applications operate at sufficiently low temperature conditions where most structural steels become very brittle and, therefore, unsuitable for use in safety-critical structures. So the materials used in the vessels or storage tanks which keep the natural gas at liquefaction temperatures need to remain ductile and crack resistant with a high level of safety. The material also needs to have high strength in order to reduce the wall thickness of the container and it must permit welding without any risk of brittle fracture. 9% Ni steel plates are one of most common used materials in the LNG storage tank application. However, the welding procedure for 9% Ni steel plates requires high level of skills of welding that is strictly controlled welding parameter for balancing avoidance of cold and hot cracking and maintenance of high strength. Mechanical properties are important characteristics of the weldment that must confirm to the application feasibility as well as functional requirements of the welded joint. The only way to enhanced the mechanical properties of welded joint by controlling the parameters of using welding process. From the main variables of the arc welding process are the heat input and interpass temperature where the two variables control the thermal cycle of welding process. The experiment show that for thin test specimen with thickness ≤ 14 mm, the heat input range from 1.4 to 2 KJ/mm and controlling interpass temperature within 80°C give high tensile strength with improving the toughness properties of welded joint and reduce the probability of brittle fracture happened by increase the ductility and reduce the yield strength and increased the transition temperature.