Influence of post-weld heat treatment on tensile properties of modified 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel base metal

Abstract

The paper presents the influence of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) on tensile properties of modified 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel base metal. Tensile tests at room and elevated temperatures (300–873 K) were performed on specimens in normalised and tempered condition as well as with additional PWHT (993 K for 1 h; 1013 K for 1 h and 1033 K for 1 h). The yield and ultimate tensile strengths decrease gradually up to intermediate temperatures followed by a rapid fall at high temperatures in all heat treatment conditions. At intermediate temperatures, the steel exhibited ductility minima, serrated flow, negative strain rate sensitivity on flow stress and peak in the average work hardening rate. The influence of additional PWHT is reflected in a systematic and gradual decrease in both the yield and tensile strength values with increasing PWHT temperature from 993 to 1033 K for 1 h. However, there has been no appreciable change in ductility values as well as the fracture mode in PWHT conditions compared with those observed in normalised and tempered condition. Comparison of strength values in PWHT conditions suggested that the strength values remained higher than the average values specified in the French Nuclear Design Code, RCC-MR.     

Prediction of deformation and failure of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel under creep-fatigue interaction

Abstract

Plant components often undergo loadings which have aspects of both fatigue and creep by experiencing repeated start-up/shut-downs between steady-state operation at high temperature. In such a case, structural materials show inelastic deformation different from that observed under pure fatigue or pure creep conditions. This finding prompted the development of “unified” constitutive models in which cyclic and creep deformations are treated in a unified way. The author’s group has been developing such a unified model for modified 9Cr–1Mo steel which is widely used in ultrasupercritical fossil power plants. Although the latest model has been demonstrated to be capable of describing deformation behaviour under various loading conditions, including cyclic and steady-state loadings, the model still has room for improvement, such as the need to represent accelerated deformation in the tertiary creep regime. In this study, an attempt is made to improve the capability of the model from various perspectives. A failure prediction model which can deal with various failure modes is also formulated. The deformation and failure lives predicted using these models show reasonable agreement with the results of various load sequence tests obtained on modified 9Cr–1Mo steel.     

Effect of test temperature on fracture toughness of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel

Abstract

The quasi-static fracture behaviour (J–R curves) of modified 9Cr–1Mo (P91) steel was studied. The J–R curves were established at 298, 653, 823 and 893 K, and fracture toughness J_0·2 at 0·2 mm of crack extension was determined. The value of ～J_0·2 at 653 K was lower compared to that at 298 K followed by increases in J_0·2 values at 823 and 893 K. The decrease in J_0·2 at 653 K can be attributed to the influence of dynamic strain aging. At 893 K, a significantly higher (more than 200%) J_0·2 was observed, since plastic deformation of the net section, rather than crack growth, occurred in this condition.     

Temperature and strain rate effect on tensile properties of 9Cr–1·8W–0·5Mo–VNb steel

Abstract

Tensile tests have been carried out on 9Cr–1·8W–0·5Mo–VNb steel (grade 92) over wide ranges of temperature (300–923 K) and strain rate (3×10^?3–3×10^?5 s^?1). The tensile strength of the steel decreased slowly with temperature at relatively lower temperature range, whereas rapidly in the higher temperature range with a plateau in the intermediate temperature range. The decrease in strain rate decreased the tensile strength of the steel both at lower and higher temperature ranges. Elongation to fracture and reduction in area increased with increase in temperatures and decrease in strain rate at higher temperature regime with a plateau in the intermediate temperature regime. The ductile mode of tensile failure has been observed in the investigated temperatures and strain rates. The plateau in the variation of tensile strength with temperature, the negative strain rate sensitivity of tensile strength and minimum in ductility of the steel in the intermediate temperature range are considered as a consequence of dynamic strain ageing. The rapid decrease in tensile strengths and increase in ductility at high temperatures have been attributed to the dynamic recovery.     

Microstructure and tensile properties of metal injection molding Co–29Cr–6Mo–0.23C alloy

The microstructure and tensile properties of a metal injection molding 0.23%C Co–Cr–Mo alloy (F75 alloy) were investigated. The as-sintered microstructure contains a significant amount of carbides, and is modified by solution annealing, the main effect being to reduce the amount of carbides. Ductility and ultimate tensile strength increase significantly, but yield strength decreases with solution annealing. Aging causes both intragranular and intergranular precipitation, which increases hardness and yield strength but decreases ductility excessively. In both as-sintered and solution-annealed conditions, the material displays noticeable work hardenability. By sintering at 1300 °C and solution annealing at 1220 °C, 440 MPa yield strength and 25% elongation at fracture are obtained.     

Optimization of hot working parameters for thermo-mechanical processing of modified 9Cr–1Mo (P91) steel employing dynamic materials model

Intrinsic workability of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel has been studied in a wide range of temperatures (1123–1373 K) and strain rates (0.001–10 s^?1). Using the experimental data obtained from isothermal hot compression tests, processing map at 0.5 true strain has been developed employing dynamic material model (DMM) approach. The activation energy map has been developed to substantiate the results obtained from processing map and to finalize the optimum processing parameters. Microstructural studies have been carried out to validate the domains of the processing map. The material shows localized deformation bands in the temperature range of 1150–1373 K at strain rates above 1 s^?1 and exhibits abnormally elongated martensite laths at higher temperature (1373 K) and lower strain rates (0.001–0.01 s^?1). The optimum domain for the hot deformation is found to be in the temperature ranges of 1250–1350 K and strain rate ranges 0.015–0.3 s^?1 with a peak efficiency of 38%. In this domain, apparent activation energy is found to be 400 kJ/mol. The microstructure of the specimens deformed in this region exhibits defect free equiaxed grains.     

Degradation in tensile and creep properties of 2.25Cr–1Mo steel by long term service in plant

Abstract

Degradation in tensile and creep properties has been investigated for 2·25Cr–1Mo steel, after long term service at 577°C for 1·9 × 10⁵ h. Creep tests were carried out at 550–690°C for up to about 10 000 h for the long term serviced material. The results are compared with those for virgin material tested for up to 100 000 h. The creep rupture time is shorter but creep ductility is larger for the long term serviced material than for the virgin material at high stress and short time conditions. The difference between the two materials becomes decreased with decreasing stress and increasing time. Microstructure evolution during long term service causes a softening and promotes dynamic recovery or recrystallisation during subsequent creep, which accelerates the onset of acceleration creep. This results in a higher minimum creep rate and a shorter rupture time for the long term serviced material than for the virgin material. The deviation from Monkman–Grant relationship is correlated with a decrease in total elongation.     

Characterization of deformation instability in modified 9Cr–1Mo steel during thermo-mechanical processing

In this study, various existing instability criteria were employed to delineate the unstable flow regions in modified 9Cr–1Mo steel during hot deformation. Experimental stress–strain data obtained from isothermal hot compression tests, in a wide range of temperatures (1123–1373 K) and strain rates (10⁻³–10 s⁻¹), were employed to develop instability maps. The domains of these instability maps were validated through detailed microstructural study. It has been observed that Hart’s stability criterion, Jonas’s criterion and Semiatin’s criterion under-predicts the instability regions in the studied temperatures and strain rates regime. Gegel’s and Alexander’s criteria as well as Murty’s metallurgical instability criterion, on the other hand, found to over-predict the instability domains. The instability map developed based on Dynamic Materials Model criterion has been found to precisely predict the instability domains. This instability map revealed four major unstable domains. Microscopic examination in these domains revealed that the instability is manifested in the specimens either as localized deformation band primarily along one of the diagonal or inhomogeneous distribution of martensite lath in the prior austenite grains.     

Fracture characteristics of thermally exposed 9Cr–1Mo steel after tensile and impact testing at room temperature

The paper deals with the fracture analysis of thermally exposed 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel after tensile and impact testing at room temperature. The temperatures of the thermal expositions were 580, 620, and 650 °C, respectively. The duration of annealing experiments varied from 500 to 5000 h. The influence of thermal expositions on Vickers hardness as well as tensile properties was found to be negligible. On the other hand, remarkable effects of the annealing on room temperature impact toughness were observed. Fracture behaviour of the 9Cr–1Mo steel is strongly affected by the presence of precipitates of secondary phases. Fracture surfaces of tensile samples indicate mainly transgranular dimple fracture mechanism. By contrast, the fracture mode of the samples after impact testing is more complex. It shows both – ductile dimple tearing as well as inter-lath decohesion.     

Hydrogen and temper embrittlement in 9Cr–1Mo steel

Abstract

The synergism between hydrogen embrittlement and temper embrittlement has been investigated in a 9Cr–1Mo martensitic steel. Measurements of tensile ductility were used to monitor the development of embrittlement with increasing hydrogen content in material as tempered and aged for up to 5000 h at 500 or 550°C. A detailed examination was made of associated changes in fracture mechanism, precipitate microstructure, and interfacial and precipitate chemistry. A strong interaction between hydrogen and temper embrittlement was observed. Both types of embrittlement in isolation reduced tensile ductility by promoting a ductile interlath fracture mechanism: ‘chisel fracture’. Hydrogen and temper embrittlement acted synergistically to reduce ductility further by the promotion of brittle intergranular fracture and transgranular cleavage. The dominant factor controlling the interaction was the precipitation of a brittle intermetallic Laves phase containing phosphorus in solution. Phosphorus segregated to interfaces was considered to make an important, but secondary, contribution to the embrittlement observed.

MST/791     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 18Cr–2Mo ferritic stainless steel thick plate

In this study, microstructure and mechanical properties of a friction stir welded 18Cr–2Mo ferritic stainless steel thick plate were investigated. The 5.4 mm thick plates with excellent properties were welded at a constant rotational speed and a changeable welding speed using a composite tool featuring a chosen volume fraction of cubic boron nitride (cBN) in a W–Re matrix. The high-quality welds were successfully produced with optimised welding parameters, and studied by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and standard hardness and impact toughness testing. The results show that microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints are affected greatly, which is mainly related to the remarkably fine-grained microstructure of equiaxed ferrite that is observed in the friction stir welded joint. Meanwhile, the ratios of low-angle grain boundary in the stir zone regions significantly increase, and the texture turns strong. Compared with the base material, mechanical properties of the joint are maintained in a comparatively high level.     

Microstructure and tensile properties of a 0.20C–4.86Mn steel after short intercritical-annealing times

This work studies the microstructure and tensile properties of a cold-rolled Fe–0.20C–4.86Mn (mass %) steel after short intercritical annealing (IA) times using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and uniaxial tensile tests. The short IA time is applied to represent the process characteristics of the industrial continuous annealing line. The experimental results show that IA temperature has a strong influence on the final microstructure and tensile properties while IA time has less. The fractions of retained austenite are much higher after IA at 650 and 675°C than the other IA temperatures, and thus improving elongation. Simulations using the DICTRA software and constitutive modelling are further performed to assist the understanding of the microstructure evolution and stress–strain curves.     

Effect of dynamic plastic deformation on microstructure and annealing behaviour of modified 9Cr−1Mo steel

The effect of dynamic plastic deformation on the microstructure of a modified 9Cr?1Mo steel has been investigated in comparison with the effect of quasi-static compression. It is found that the boundary spacing after dynamic plastic deformation is smaller and the hardness is higher than those after quasi-static compression. The microstructure after dynamic plastic deformation is however less stable than the microstructure after quasi-static compression. Annealing at 675 and 700°C leads to structural coarsening and recrystallisation in each sample, but with recrystallisation occurring faster in the sample annealed after dynamic plastic deformation. The lower thermal stability of the microstructure produced by dynamic plastic deformation is attributed to a higher driving force for recrystallisation in the dynamically deformed material.     

Influence of dynamic strain aging pre-treatment on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel

The influence of dynamic strain aging (DSA) pre-treatment on the low-cycle-fatigue (LCF) behavior of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel was investigated at 550 °C. The DSA pre-treatment reduces the fatigue life, which is reflected on the fracture surface as multiple crack initiation. The samples pre-treated by DSA have higher peak tensile stress and positive mean stress effects, which is responsible for the lifetime reduction. The DSA pre-treatment does not change cross-slip mechanisms during mechanical cycling, compared without DSA process, but results in accelerating the microstructure transformation from lath to cells with low dislocation densities, which reduces the number of cycles to failure.     

Serrated yielding in 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel

Abstract

Tensile tests were performed on specimens in quenched and tempered and thermally aged conditions over a wide temperature range (300–873 K) to assess the occurrence of serrated flow, a manifestation of dynamic strain aging (DSA), in 9Cr–1Mo ferritic steel, with an emphasis on the influence of prior thermal aging on serrated yielding. The alloy exhibited jerky/serrated flow in the load–elongation curves at intermediate temperatures. Types A, B, and C serrations were observed, depending on the test temperature and applied strain rate. The apparent activation energy of 83 kJ mol^-1 measured for serrated flow suggests that diffusion of an interstitial solute such as carbon is responsible for dynamic strain aging in 9Cr–1Mo steel. Prior thermal aging at 793 K for 5000 h and at 873 K for 1000 and 5000 h resulted in a significant decrease in the height of serrations, i.e. the magnitude of the stress drop, as well as an increase in the critical strain for the onset of serrations. Both of these observations indicate reduced propensity to DSA as a result of increased precipitate sinks as well as a reduced carbon concentration in solid solution owing to an increased density of carbides in the thermally aged conditions. Reduced propensity to DSA resulted in a significant reduction in the strength values at intermediate temperatures.     

Annealing behaviour of deformation–induced voids in 9Cr–1 Mo steel

Abstract

Specimens of a 9Cr–1 Mo steel have been deformed in tension at room temperature and the concentration and size distribution of deformation–induced carbide–nucleated voids was established as a function of strain. Additional specimens were annealed, after deformation, at 600 and 750°C, respectively; thin foils prepared from these specimens were used to monitor void shrinkage and the consequent reduction in void density as a function of annealing time. The results are compared with the behaviour predicted by an equation previously used by Volin and Balluffi to account for the shrinkage of ‘quenched-in’ voids in aluminium.

MST/213     

Microstructure and compressive properties of NiAl–Cr(Mo)–Dy near eutectic alloy prepared by suction casting

Abstract

The NiAl–Cr(Mo) eutectic alloy doped with Dy was prepared by suction casting technique and its microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. It is found that with the addition of Dy, the Ni₅Dy phase is formed along the NiAl/Cr(Mo) phase boundary in the intercellular region. By the suction casting method, the microstructure of the alloy get well optimisation which can be characterised by the fine interlamellar spacing, high proportion of eutectic cell area and fine homogeneous distributed Ni₅Dy phase. The compression test results reveal that the room temperature and high temperature mechanical properties of the suction cast alloy improve significantly, compared with the conventionally cast alloy.     

Cyclic creep behaviour under tension–tension loading cycles with hold time of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel

Abstract

Cyclic creep behaviour of modified 9Cr–1Mo steel was investigated by a series of cyclic creep (CC) tests at 600°C, which were performed under controlled tension–tension loading cycles with the magnitude of stress ranges in a constant stress ratio (R?=?0·1). Hold time was applied for a 10 min hold at the maximum stress (σ_max) and minimum stress (σ_min). The CC properties were compared with the static creep (SC) using Norton’s power law, Larson–Miller plot, and Monkman–Grant relation, and the microstructure was examined. For the test conditions employed in the present investigation, retardation in the CC behaviour in terms of a lower creep rate and longer rupture time compared to those in the SC was obtained. The retardation was ascribed to the effects associated with anelastic recovery during the 10 min hold time at the minimum load of the cyclic loading. The creep rupture ductility decreased with a general decrease in stress, and there was no difference in the creep ductility between the CC and SC. The steel displayed a transgranular fracture characterised by the presence of dimples resulting from micro-void coalescence. Carbide precipitation was more coarsened with increasing in exposure time in the CC tests.     

Interpretation of creep behaviour of a 9Cr–Mo–Nb–V–N (T91) steel using threshold stress concept

Abstract

The creep behaviour and the microstructural evolution of a 9Cr–Mo–Nb–V (T91) steel were extensively evaluated by means of short term constant load creep tests and TEM analysis. Statistical analysis of the microstructural data revealed that the precipitated phases M₂₃ C₆ (where M is a metal, mainly Cr or Fe) and MX (where M is Nb or V, and X is C and/or N) were subject to coarsening during creep exposure. The coarsening law and its dependence on applied stress were identified, and the model was used to predict the magnitude of the Orowan stress at the time corresponding to the minimum creep rate. The minimum creep rate dependence on applied stress at 873 K was described by incorporating the threshold stress concept in a power law with stress exponent n = 5. In the resulting phenomenological model, the strengthening effect of the dispersed phases was thus expressed by a threshold stress proportional to the Orowan stress.