Papers by Keyword: Austenitic Heat-Resistant Steel

Abstract: The Nb-contained austenitic heat-resistant steel 18Cr10NiNb(TP347H) has been widely used as super-heater and re-heater tube material for modern ultra-super-critical (USC) power plants in the world. High temperature structure stability is considered to be one of the most important factors for long-term service. Long-term aging at 650 °C for this steel was conducted till 10,000 hours. Effect of aging time on microstructure was studied by means of SEM and TEM. Tensile tests were carried out after aging at 650 °C for different times. Experimental results show that MX phase and M₂₃C₆ carbides are major strengthening precipitates in this steel. With increasing of aging time, fine nano-size MX particles precipitate in grains and its size keeps about 50 nm till 10,000 h at 650 °C. Carbide M₂₃C₆ mainly precipitates at grain boundaries but coarsens quickly. Investigation results show that MX phase plays the most important strengthening effect in grains. The amount of MX phase increases with increasing of Nb and C contents. The effects of Nb and C contents on mole fractions of MX phase in 18Cr10NiNb steel have been calculated by using Thermo-Calc software.

Abstract: The Cu-containing austenitic heat-resistant steel 18Cr-9Ni-3CuNbN has been widely used as superheater and reheater tube material for modern ultra-super-critical (USC) power plants in the world. High temperature structure stability is considered to be an important factor for long-term service. Long-term aging at 650°C for this steel was conducted from 100 to 10,000hours. Effect of aging time on microstructure was studied by means of SEM, TEM and 3DAP (three dimensional atom probe). Micro-hardness tests were carried out after aging at 650°C for different times to be considered as a representative of strength. Experimental results show that Cu-rich phase, MX and M23C6 are major strengthening precipitates in this steel. With on increasing of aging time, fine nano-size Cu-rich phase particles precipitate in the grains and its size is in the range of several nanometers to 35nm till 10,000h at 650°C. The fraction of MX also increases with aging time and its average size is about 100nm till 10,000h. Carbide M23C6 mainly precipitates at grain boundaries and coarsens quickly. Investigation results show that the most important strengthening effect for 18Cr-9Ni-3CuNbN steel is contributed by Cu-rich phase and MX in the grains and M23C6 carbide at the grain boundaries.