Identification of microstructural zones and thermal cycles in a weldment of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel

This paper presents the results of a study on the microstructural and microchemical variations in a multipass Gas Tungsten Arc weld (GTAW) of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. The changes brought about in the steel due to the heating and cooling cycles during welding and the subsequent effects due to reheating effects during multipass welding are described. Detailed analytical transmission electron microscopy has been carried to study the type and composition of the primary and secondary phases in this steel. The systematic changes in microstructural parameters such as Prior Austenite Grain Size, martensite lath size, number density, size and microchemistry of carbides, have been understood based on the different transformations that the steel undergoes during the heating and cooling process. Based on the observed microstructure, an attempt has been made to identify distinct microstructural zones and possible thermal cycles experienced by different regions of the weldment.     

Study of transformation behavior in a Ti–4.4 Ta–1.9 Nb alloy

An alloy of composition Ti–4.4 wt.% Ta–1.9 wt.% Nb is being developed as a structural material for corrosion applications, as titanium and its alloys possess excellent corrosion resistance in many oxidizing media. The primary physical metallurgy database for the Ti–4.4 wt.% Ta–1.9 wt.% Nb alloy is being presented for the first time. Determination of the β transus, M_s temperature and classification of the alloy have been carried out, employing a variety of microscopy techniques, X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-hardness and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The β transition temperature or β transus determined using different experimental techniques was found to agree very well with evaluations based on empirical calculations. Based on chemistry and observed room temperature microstructure, the alloy has been classified as an + β titanium alloy. The high temperature β transforms to either ′ or + β by a martensitic or Widmanstatten transformation. The mechanisms of transformation of β under different conditions and characteristics of different types of have been studied and discussed in this paper.     

Weldability and microstructural variations in weldments of Ti-5Ta-1.8Nb alloy

The successful replacement of the present generation of corrosion-resistant materials (nitric acid-grade stainless steel and Ti) by Ti-5Ta-1.8Nb, which has better corrosion resistance, depends on its weldability characteristics. This article presents the results of a study on the fabrication, qualification, and microstructural characterization of the welds. Welding was carried out using the direct current electrode negative (DCEN) polarity tungsten inert gas (TIG) (manual) welding method with high-purity Ar shielding. Testing was carried out as per the ASME standard (section IX, welding and brazing). Qualification tests found that the weldment met the required properties. The weldment showed heterogeneous microstructures, which are rationalized based on differences in phase transformation mechanisms that are dictated by the thermal cycles experienced by various microscopic regions. The results, described in this article, confirm that the weldability of the developmental Ti-Ta-Nb alloy is excellent. A preliminary evaluation of the corrosion behavior of the welds showed rates comparable to that of the base metal, establishing that this alloy could be considered as an alternative material for use in highly corrosive environments.     

Effect of Long-Term Thermal Exposures on Microstructure and Impression Creep in 304HCu Grade Austenitic Stainless Steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - This paper presents the results of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties in 304H Cu grade austenite stainless (SS 304HCu) during long-term...     

Evaluation of concentration dependant diffusion coefficients of carbon in a dissimilar joint of ferritic steels

When dissimilar weldments between 9Cr-1Mo and 2¼Cr-1Mo ferritic steels are exposed to high temperature, microstructural and microchemical modifications are observed near the weld interface. Diffusion of carbon driven by the activity gradient from low Cr to high Cr steel leads to the formation of carbon enriched ‘hard’ zone and carbon depleted ‘soft’ zone near the fusion joint. The present paper deals with the measurement of carbon diffusion profiles and the evaluation of concentration dependent diffusion coefficients of carbon across the interface at a temperature of 1023 K. Accurate carbon concentration profiles are generated using carbon calibration graph. The profiles are smoothened to reduce the experimental scatter and the concentration dependant diffusion coefficients are determined using Den Broeder’s method. In the base materials, where the concentration gradient is extremely small, D(c) values are determined using Hall’s method. Variation in D(c) across the weld interface is understood based on the microstructural and microchemical changes that take place during heat treatment.     

Molecular Epidemiological Study of Pyrazinamide-Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from South India

Pyrazinamide (PZA) has been in use for almost 50 years as a first-line drug for short-course chemotherapy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, PCR mediated automated DNA sequencing is used to check the prevalence of PZA resistance among treatment failure cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Out of 50 clinical isolates examined, 39 had mutations in the pncA gene that encodes Pyrazinamidase, an enzyme required to activate PZA. Of these, 31 (79.5%) were localized to three regions of pncA. We found two isolates with hitherto unreported mutation at amino acid 26 (Ala→Gly) of pncA.     

Changes in carbohydrates and the activity of α-galactosidase,pentosanase and lipase during germination of groundnuts (Arachis hypogea)

The quantitative changes in carbohydrates of two varieties (i.e., red netal and HG-4) of groundnuts during germination have been investigated. On germination, raffinose, stachyose and verbascose decreased gradually up to 48 h and almost disappeared completely in later stages of germination (140 h). Glucose and fructose levels increased 4–6 fold; while sucrose content increased considerably throughout germination in both the varieties of groundnuts. The starch content increased about four fold during germination in both the varieties. The pentosan content was almost constant up to 36 h but decreased in later stages of germination. The oil content decreased significantly from 52 to 8.0%. The fairly high initial α-galactosidase and lipase activity in resting seeds, increased considerably during germination in both the varieties studied. On the other hand the pentosanase activity was not detected up to 36 h of germination but it appears to increase abruptly afterwards.     

Failure Analysis of Motorized Bellow-Sealed Valve of Sodium Loop in Fast Breeder Test Reactor

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - A motorized bellow-sealed valve in the steam generator leak detection circuit of fast breeder test reactor developed sodium leak while carrying out...     

Creep-rupture behavior of forged, thick section 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel

Detailed investigations have been performed to examine the creep-rupture behavior of a 1000-mm diameter and 300-mm-thick tube plate forging of 9Cr-1Mo ferritic steel in quenched and tempered (Q + T), simulated postweld heat treatment (SPWHT), and thermally aged (TA) conditions. Creep tests were conducted over a wide stress range (50 to 275 MPa) at 793 and 873 K. The alloy exhibited well-defined primary, steady-state, and extended tertiary creep stages at all test conditions. At 793 K, no significant difference in the creep-rupture properties was noted between Q + T, SPWHT, and TA conditions. On the other hand, SPWHT specimens exhibited lower creep-rupture strength than that of Q + T specimens at 873 K. Applied stress (σ _a ) dependence of rupture life (t _r ) exhibited two-slope behavior. Both the Monkman-Grant (ε _s .t _r = C _MG) and modified Monkman-Grant (ε _s .t _r /ε _f = C _MMG) relationships were found to be valid for 9Cr-1Mo steel, where ε _s is the steady-state creep rate and ε _f is the strain to failure. The two-slope behavior was also reflected as two constants in the Monkman-Grant relationship (MGR) and modified Monkman-Grant relationship (MMGR) in the two stress regimes. Further, two creep damage tolerance factors (λ = 1/C _MMG) of 5 and 10 were also observed in the high and low stress regimes, respectively. The alloy exhibited high creep ductility, which was retained for longer rupture lives at low stresses, and the creep ductility increased with increase in test temperature. The failure mode remained trangranular under all test conditions. The extensive tertiary creep in the alloy has been attributed to microstructural degradation associated with precipitates and dislocation substructure. The creep-rupture strength of the forging was found to be lower than that of thin section bars and tubes.