Restoration of elevated temperature tensile strength in 2.25Cr-1Mo steel

Metallographic studies have been conducted on 2.25Cr-lMo steel specimens taken from pressure vessels after long term service exposures at 500 to 650 °C. The loss of strength in the 2.25Cr-lMo steel after the service exposure consists of two parts: (1) the strength loss accompanying the change in the carbide morphology as usually occurs during tempering, and (2) a strength loss which occurs without any noticeable microstructural change. This second part of the strength loss can also be produced by relatively short term thermal treatment such as step-cooling from the tempering temperature, and is reversible by retempering followed by air-cooling. This type of strength loss is associated with a reduction of molybdenum content in solid solution in the ferrite. It is hypothesized that the strength loss and recovery of 2.25Cr-lMo steel are produced by changes in the solid solution strengthening mainly due to molybdenum, carbon, and possibly nitrogen. Subsidiary of AMAX Inc.