Papers by Author: Feng Sun

Abstract: Alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) heat-resistance steels firstly developed by Yamamoto et al. at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been reported as a new promising class of steels with potential for use in high temperature applications in recent years. The creep resistance of AFA steels is improved mainly by precipitation strengthening. Besides modifying the typical existing precipitates, i.e. MC and M₂₃C₆ type carbides, B2-NiAl and Fe₂Nb-type Laves phase, introduction of coherent L1₂-ordered precipitate is highly desired. L1₂-ordered phase gamma prime (γ’) is the most important precipitate for high-temperature strengthening in Ni-based superalloys. In the present work, we demonstrate that addition of 2.8 wt. % Cu to an AFA steel promotes the formation of an L1₂-ordered phase with the dominating elements Ni, Cu and Al. TEM characterization after slow rate tensile tests indicated there were the different precipitation behaviours at 700°C and 750°C. It was revealed that the occurrence of L1₂-ordered Ni-Cu-Al phase depends on temperature and Ni content. This opens up new opportunities to promote the formation of L1₂-ordered phase in Fe-based austenitic heat-resistance steels and benefit high-temperature mechanical properties.

Abstract: The number of steel-frame buildings is increasing as a result of development of social economy. However, the fire-resistant property of steel-frame buildings is much weaker than that of brick-frame buildings and RC-frame buildings. In response to such demand, fire-resistant steel has been developed since the last two decades. Mo is one of the most effective strengthening elements for the high-temperature strength of steels. With the increase of the Mo content in steels, there is a dramatic increase in costs which is unacceptable for the cost-sensitive construction area. Therefore, a fire-resistant steel with a low Mo content is highly desired. Two fire-resistant steels with low Mo content (<0.3%) were designed in this paper. The interdependence of microstructure, properties and temperature was studied and analyzed in hot-rolled testing steels. The results show that the low-Mo fire-resistant steels have improved elevated temperature strength (The yield strength of Nb content steel is 240MPa, which can met the requirements of grade Q345 fire-resistant steel), low yield ratio (<0.6) and good welding performance (Ceq≈0.40). The bainite and fine grains are mainly beneficial to the elevated temperature UTS. Nb is an alloying element effective in increasing elevated temperature strength (especially for YS) as well as Mo.

Abstract: 12Cr heat resistant steels with different concentration of Co and W, while Mo equivalent (Mo+1/2W) was fixed at 1.6, were prepared by arc-melting and hot rolling. Mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile tests conducted with the strain rate 2×10-5S-1 at 575oC, 600oC and 625oC instead of time-consuming creep tests. The results show that when Co content is fixed, the steel with 1.5 wt% W is found having the best deformation resistance which is strong work hardening and slow strain softening. Apparent activation energy of the steel with 3.1 wt% Co and 1.5 wt% W is in the range of 370~413 kJ/mol, higher than those of the other steels in our study, which are close to the self-diffusion activation energy of iron (239 kJ/mol). Therefore, the steel with 3.1 % Co and 1.5% W is suggested as a potential candidate material for 625oC~650oC class USC steam turbines.