Effect of Mn addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of GX40CrNiSi25-12 austenitic heat resistant steel

Three types of steels were designed on the basis of GX40CrNiSi25-12 austenitic heat resistant steel by adding different Mn contents(2wt.%,6wt.%,and 12wt.%).Thermodynamic calculation,microstructure characterization and mechanical property tests were conducted to investigate the effect of Mn addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the austenitic heat resistant steel.Results show that the matrix structure in all the three types of steels at room temperature is completely austenite.Carbides NbC and M_(23)C_(6)precipitate at grain boundaries of austenite matrix.With the increase of Mn content,the number of carbides increases and their distribution becomes more uniform.With the Mn content increases from 1.99%to 12.06%,the ultimate tensile strength,yield strength and elongation increase by 14.6%,8.0%and 46.3%,respectively.The improvement of the mechanical properties of austenitic steels can be explained by utilizing classic theories of alloy strengthening,including solid solution strengthening,precipitation strengthening,and grain refinement.The increase in alloy strength can be attributed to solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening caused by the addition of Mn.The improvement of the plasticity of austenitic steels can be explained from two aspects:grain refinement and homogenization of precipitated phases.

Microstructural Evolution of 2.25Cr-1.6W-V-Nb Heat Resistant Steel during Creep

2.25Cr-1.6W-V-Nb developed in Japan, is a low alloy heat resistant steel with good comprehensive properties. Influence of long term creep at elevated temperature on the structure of 2.25Cr-1.6W-V-Nb steel was studied in this paper, and the micromechanism of creep strength degradation was elucidated, too. Both TEM observation and thermodynamic calculation reveal that during creep the transformation occurs from M7C3 and M23C6 to M6C, which can be cavity nucleation sites. Besides, creep at 600癈 also leads to the decrease of dislocation density, the coarsening and coalescence of M23C6, the nucleation of cavities and development of cracks. The strength decrease of 2.25Cr-1.6W-V-Nb steel after long term creep is related to the decrease of dislocation hardening, precipitation hardening, solution hardening, the nucleation of cavities and development of cracks.

Effect of Aluminium and Silicon on High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of Fe-Cr-Ni Heat Resistant Steel

Fe-Cr-Ni heat resistant steels with different contents of Al and Si were cast in intermediate frequency induction furnace with non-oxidation method. With oxidation weight gain method, the oxidation resistance of test alloys was examined at 1 200 ℃ for 500 h. The effects of Al and Si on oxidation resistance were studied through analyses of X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscope （SEM）. It is shown that the composition of oxide scales is a decisive factor for the oxidation resistance of heat resistant steels. The compounded scale composed of Cr203, α-Al2O3, SiO2 and Fe （Ni）Cr2O4, with flat and compact structure, fine and even grains, exhibits complete oxidation resistance at 1 200 ℃. Its oxidation weight gain rate is only 0.081 g/（m^2.h）. By the criterion of standard Gibbs formation free energy, a model of nucleation and growth of the compounded scale was established. The formation of the compounded scale was the result of the competition of being oxidated and reduction among Al, Si, and the matrix metal elements of Fe, Cr and Ni. The protection of the compounded scale was analyzed from the perspectives of electrical conductivity and strength properties.

Characterization of precipitates in 9%Cr heat resistant steel

Precipitation strengthening as well as solution strengthening is key mechanism for heat resistant steels.It is very important to characterize the precipitates in 9%Cr ferrite heat resistant steels,especially to show the nanometer-sized particles.By transmission electronic microscope attached with an energy dispersive spectrometer as well as optical microscope,scanning electronic microscope,the microstructure and chemical composition of precipitates in a 9%Cr heat resistant steel after different heat treatments were investigated.It was found that the microstructure of normalized sample was martensite with fine NbC and Fe_3C.The microstructure of tempered sample is tempered martensite,and there mainly were two types of precipitates,M_(23)C_6 with the size range of 50 - 300 nm and MX with the size of 10 - 100 nm.Superfine M_(23)C_6 precipitated preferably on prior austenitic grain boundaries and martensitic lath boundaries,while nanometer-sized MX precipitates were distributed randomly. After short-term creep,Laves phase formed along grain boundaries of the 9%Cr steel,and M_(23) C_6 and MX precipitates were found to become coarser.More information about precipitates in the 9%Cr steel had been exhibited by atomic force microscopy.Thereby,distribution,size and shape of the precipitates as well as their compositions and structures were revealed.

Hot Deformation Behavior of a New 9%Cr Heat Resistant Steel G115

The hot deformation behavior of a new heat resistant steel Gl15 designed for 650 ℃ ultra-supercritical （USC） power plants was experimentally studied. Hot compression test was carried out in the temperature range of 900-1 200 ℃ and the strain rate range of 0.1-20 s i by using Gleeble 3800 thermal-mechanical simulator, and the corresponding flow curves were obtained. Experimental results show that the flow stress increases with the decrease of deformation temperature and the increase of strain rate. The hot deformation activation energy of G115 steel was determined to be 494 kJ/mol and the constitutive equation was also obtained. For convenience of the practical applica-tion, a good approximate equation was obtained for calculating the peak stress values of Gl15 steel under different deformation conditions. At the strain value of 0.9, natural logarithm of the critical Zener Hollomon parameter Zc of Gl15 steel was determined to be in the scope of 49.67 and 50.65, above which there will be no dynamic recrystalliza-tion （DRX）. And natural logarithm of the critical Zener-Hollomon parameter Zc of Gl15 steel was determined to be in the scopes of 45.58 and 46.27, below which full DRX may occur. Then, the status diagram of dynamic micro structures of G115 steel was established. In addition, the strain rate sensitivity of Gl15 steel is not constant during the test temperature range and it increases linearly from 900 to 1 200 ℃. Therefore, hot deformation at higher tem- peratures would obtain better workability.

Constitutive Equation Models of Hot-Compressed T122 Heat Resistant Steel

Based on dislocation reaction theory and Avrami equation, a constitutive equation model was developed to describe dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization during hot deformation of T122 heat resistant steel, which have taken the effect of dynamic strain aging into account. Uniaxial hot compression test had been carried out over a wide range of strain rate （0.01 to 10 s-1 ） and temperature （900 to 1 200 ~C） with the help of Gleeble 3500. Obtained experimental data was applied to determine the material parameters in proposed constitutive equations of T122 steel, by using the non-linear least square regress optimization method. The calculated constitutive equations are quantita- tively in good agreement with experimentally measured curves and microstructure observation. It shows that propose constitutive equation T122 steel is able to be used to predict flow stress of T122 steel during hot deformation in aus- tenite temperature scope.

Evolution of Precipitates of S31042 Heat Resistant Steel During 700℃ Aging

The evolution of precipitates of S31042 steel during 700 ℃ aging was investigated by using a scanning elec- tron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, and electron energy spectrum technology. The various combi nations of M23C6, MX, NbCrN, and σ and G phases in the steel were found at different aging states. In the begin ning of aging, M23C6 precipitates swiftly along the grain boundaries. When the aging time exceeds 6 000 h, precipita- ted M23C6 carbides along the grain boundaries turn to be granular. It was found that Si element segregates to grain boundaries during above process, which may enhance the granular shape of M23C6 carbides and its transformation to and G phases. When the aging time exceeds 10 000 h, various shaped a phase and granular G phase appear along the grain boundaries and there are no continuous M23C6 carbides along the grain boundaries. Meanwhile, a large quantity of granular M23C6 carbides and a minor amount of G phase precipitate near the grain boundaries. Based on the segre- gation of silicon to the grain boundaries, a precipitation evolution model during aging was concluded.

Viscous properties of new mould flux based on aluminate system with CeO_2 for continuous casting of RE alloyed heat resistant steel

The conventional mould fluxes can not be applied to the continuous casting of RE alloyed heat resistant steel, because severe slag-metal interface reactions occur generally in the mold. To restrain the interface reaction and improve conditions for continuous casting, a new mould flux based on aluminate system was devised. The viscous properties were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were applied to detect and characterize the crystalline phases in the continuous cooling process. The results showed that appropriate addition of CeOcould avoid the precipitation of CaO and decrease the viscosity of the mould flux. Increasing the mass ratio of CaO /AlO, especially to a value exceeding 1, could worsen the stability of the mould flux. With a content of less than 14 wt.%, LiO could reduce the viscosity and breaking temperature, but its effect could be weakened for the promoted precipitation of LiAlO. To obtain a mould flux with stable viscous properties, such as viscosity and breaking temperature, appropriate contents of CeOand LiO should be controlled to around 10 wt.% and 14 wt.%, while the mass ratio of CaO /AlOshould not be more than 1.

Embrittlement Mechanism due to Slow Cooling During Quenching for M152 Martensitic Heat Resistant Steel

The mechanism of brittleness of M152 martensitic heat resistant steel due to slow cooling during quenching was experimentally investigated. The mechanical property tests and microstructure observation were conducted by TEM and XRD. The results showed that the presence of irreversible brittleness during slow cooling of quenching for M152 steel is attributed to the continuous M23C6 precipitation along prior austenite grain boundaries and M2C along prior residual austenite film. The residual austenite in the steel was unstable and decomposed after the precipitation of second phase during the process of slow cooling of quenching. The low cooling rate within the temperature range from 820 ℃ to 660 ℃ plays a key role in impact toughness, and the precipitation of second phase in the same temperature range results in irreversible brittleness.

The impact toughness of a nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel

The nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel is precipitation strengthened only by nitrides.In the present work,the effect of nitride precipitation behavior on the impact toughness of an experimental steel was investigated.Nitrides could hardly be observed when the steel was tempered at 650℃.When the tempering temperature was increased to 700℃ and 750℃,a large amount of nitrides were observed in the matrix.It was surprising to reveal that the impact energy of the half-size samples greatly increased from several Joules to nearly a hundred Joules.The ductile-brittle transition temperature(DBTT) was also discovered to decrease from room temperature to 50℃ when the tempering temperature was increased from 650℃ to 750℃.The nitride precipitation with increasing tempering temperature was revealed to be responsible for the improved impact toughness.

Oxidation damage and interfacial failure of dissimilar metal welds containing ferritic heat resistant steels

The ex-service steam tubes containing dissimilar metal weld(DMW)between high Cr ferritic steel T91 and austenitic stainless steel TP347H and the ex-service steam tubes containing DMW between low Cr ferritic steel G102 and austenitic stainless steel TP347H were obtained from coal-fired thermal power plants in China,and their microstructures at the nickel-based weld metal(WM)/ferritic steel interfaces and oxidation characteristics were investigated.After operating for 15,000 h at steam temperature of 541 C and steam pressure of 17.5 MPa,a G102/TP347H DMW failed along the WM/G102 steel interface,which was a dangerous premature failure mode without obvious plastic deformation.This interfacial failure was attributed to the interaction between oxidation and cracking along the interface,where fracture appeared to be related with the strain concentration at the interface.Oxide notch along the WM/G102 steel interface was the precursor of premature interfacial failure of DMW involving G102.For the DMW involving high Cr ferritic steel T91,ferritic steel side could form a Cr-rich passive film during service and thus would not be further oxidized after operating for 67,000 h at steam temperature of 541 C and steam pressure of 3.5 MPa.It was concluded that oxidation played a more important role in failure of these DMWs,and retarding the development of oxidation and avoiding the interfacial oxide notch would dramatically improve the service performance of steam tubes containing DMWs.

Effect of rare earths on oxidation resistance of heat resistant steel

The application of rare earths(RE) in the Ni saving heat resistant steel was studied by metalloscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS),X-ray difference(XRD).Because the diffusion of chromium was promoted by RE,a dense and adhesive Cr2O3 layer could form rapidly at the early oxidation stage,which played a effective protection role;the pinning effect of silicon dioxide was enhanced by RE in the internal oxidation layer,which had a block effect on the diffusion of metal ions and oxygen ions at later stage of oxidation and resulted in that the high temperature oxidation rate of RE heat resistant steel was decreased.

Effect of aging temperature on the microstructures and mechanical properties of ZG12Cr9Mo1Co1NiVNbNB ferritic heat-resistant steel

The effect of aging on the mechanical properties and microstructures of a new ZG12Cr9 MolColNiVNbNB ferritic heat resistant steel was investigated in this work to satisfy the high steam parameters of the ultra-supercritical power plant.The results show that the main precipitates during aging are Fe（Cr,Mo）23C6,V（Nb）C,and（Fe2Mo） Laves in the steel.The amounts of the precipitated phases increase during aging,and correspondingly,the morphologies of phases are similar to be round.Fe（Cr,Mo）23C6 appears along boundaries and grows with increasing temperature.In addition,it is revealed that the martensitic laths are coarsened and eventually happen to be polygonization.The hardness and strength decrease gradually,whereas the plasticity of the steel increases.What＇s more,the hardness of this steel after creep is similar to that of other 9%-12%Cr ferritic steels.Thus,ZG12Cr9 MolColNiVNbNB can be used in the project.

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.

Oxidation Behaviors of Different Grades of Ferritic Heat Resistant Steels in High-Temperature Steam and Flue Gas Environments

For steam tubes used in thermal power plant,the inner and outer walls were operated in high-temperature steam and flue gas environments respectively.In this study,structure,microstructure and chemical composition of oxide films on inner and outer walls of exservice low Cr ferritic steel G102 tube and exservice high Cr ferritic steel T91 tube were analyzed.The oxide film was composed of outer oxide layer,inner oxide layer and internal oxidation zone.The outer oxide layer on the original surface of tube had a porous structure containing Fe oxides formed by diffusion and oxidation of Fe.More specially,the outer oxide layer formed in flue gas environment would mix with coal combustion products during the growth process.The inner oxide layer below the original surface of tube was made of Fe–Cr spinel.The internal oxidation zone was believed to be the precursor stage of inner oxide layer.The formation of internal oxidation zone was due to O diffusing along grain boundaries to form oxide.There were Fe–Cr–Si oxides discontinuously distributed along grain boundaries in the internal oxidation zone of G102,while there were Fe–Cr oxides continuously distributed along grain boundaries in that of T91.

High-temperature oxidation behavior of heat resistant stainless steel 1.4828

The kinetic curves of the high-temperature oxidation of austenitic heat resistant stainless steel 1. 4828 at 1 050 ℃ were measured using a weighing method. It is shown that the oxidation curves at 1 050 ℃ followed the parabolic line law, and after 250 h of oxidation, the mass gain was about 80 g/m2. The surface morphology and structure of the oxide layers were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. A complicated oxide layer obtained at 1 050 ℃ was mainly composed, from inner to outer, of （FeSi） 3 04, Cr2 03, Fe2 03, and spinel oxides FeCr204 and NiMn204.

IMPROVEMENT OF TYPE IV CRACKING RESISTANCE OF 9Cr HEAT RESISTING STEEL WELDMENT BY BORON ADDITION

Creep lives of high Cr ferritic heat resisting steel weldments decrease due to Type Ⅳ fracture, which occurs as a result of formation and growth of creep voids and cracks on grain boundaries in fine-grained heat affected zone (HAZ). Because boron is considered to suppress the coarsening of grain boundary precipitates and growth of creep voids, we have investigated the effect of boron addition on the creep properties of 9Cr steel weldments. Four kinds of 9Cr3WSCoVNb steels with boron content varying from 4.7×10-5 to 1.8×10-4 and with nitrogen as low as 2.0×10-5 were prepared. The steel plates were welded by gas tungsten arc welding and crept at 923K. It was found that the microstructures of HAZ were quite different from those of conventional high Cr steels such as P91 and P92, namely the fine-grained HAZ did not exist in the present steel weldments. Boron addition also has the effect to suppress coarsening of grain boundary carbides in HAZ during creep. As a result of these phenomena, the welded joints of present steels showed no Type Ⅳ fractures and much better creep lives than those of conventional steels.

LONG-TERM CREEP AND RUPTURE PROPERTIES OF HEATRESISTING STEELS AND ALLOYS

The present status of NRIM Creep Data Sheet Project and the recent activities of long-term creep and rupture studies on heat resisting steels are described. The project has been continued to produce long-term data such as 100 000h-creep rupture strength for 47 kinds of principal heat resisting steels and alloys, including welded joints. The long-term creep deformation behavior and microstructural evolution during creep have been shown to be complicated.

Effect of Interface Form on Creep Failure and Life of Dissimilar Metal Welds Involving Nickel-Based Weld Metal and Ferritic Base Metal

For dissimilar metal welds(DMWs)involving nickel-based weld metal(WM)and ferritic heat resistant steel base metal(BM)in power plants,there must be an interface between WM and BM,and this interface suffers mechanical and microstructure mismatches and is often the rupture location of premature failure.In this study,a new form of WM/BM interface form,namely double Y-type interface was designed for the DMWs.Creep behaviors and life of DMWs containing double Y-type interface and conventional I-type interface were compared by finite element analysis and creep tests,and creep failure mechanisms were investigated by stress-strain analysis and microstructure characterization.By applying double Y-type interface instead of conventional I-type interface,failure location of DMW could be shifted from the WM/ferritic heat-affected zone(HAZ)interface into the ferritic HAZ or even the ferritic BM,and the failure mode change improved the creep life of DMW.The interface premature failure of I-type interface DMW was related to the coupling effect of microstructure degradation,stress and strain concentrations,and oxide notch on the WM/HAZ interface.The creep failure of double Y-type interface DMW was the result of Type IV fracture due to the creep voids and micro-cracks on fine-grain boundaries in HAZ,which was a result of the matrix softening of HAZ and lack of precipitate pinning at fine-grain boundaries.The double Y-type interface form separated the stress and strain concentrations in DMW from the WM/HAZ interface,preventing the trigger effect of oxide notch on interface failure and inhibiting the interfacial microstructure cracking.It is a novel scheme to prolong creep life and enhance reliability of DMW,by means of optimizing the interface form,decoupling the damage factors from WM/HAZ interface,and then changing the failure mechanism and shifting the failure location.

Extrapolation Model of High Temperature Creep for 12Cr1MoV Steel

The creep curves of heat resistant steel 12Cr1MoV was investigated. by constant stress creep tests. The creep curves of constant stress creep are quite different from that of constant load creep. The original θ- Concept Project procedure can be validated to successfully describe the constant stress creep curves but not constant load creep. A modified θprocedure was developed. This approach can successfully described both constant stress creep and constant load creep curves. The new approach leads to a great improvement in accuracy of long term prediction of extrapolation due to validation of a great number of existing constant load creep data.