Papers by Keyword: M₂₃C₆

Abstract: Due to its high creep strength and oxidation resistance, C-263 is a promising Ni-based alloy for applications in superheater tubes in coal fired thermal power plants. The creep strength is mostly based on finely distributed gamma-prime precipitates. In this work, the microstructural evolution of this material during heat treatment and thermal ageing has been investigated. The investigations were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Selected Area Diffraction Pattern (SADP) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Besides, equilibrium and Scheil calculations were carried out using the thermodynamic software MatCalc to analyze the stable phases and the solidification process, respectively. Precipitation calculations during solution annealing and subsequent ageing at 700°C and 750°C up to 10.000h ageing time were performed to predict the phase fraction and precipitates radius. SEM and TEM investigations of aged specimens revealed three different precipitates: M₂₃C₆, γ’ and MX. MatCalc also predicted these precipitates. The calculated phase fraction and mean radius show good agreement with experimental data.

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.

Abstract: Creep deformation mechanism of the steels with a different matrix, α (ferrite), α’ (martensite) and γ (austenite), and precipitates such as MX and M23C6 has been analyzed using positron annihilation lifetime measurement. The positron annihilation lifetime has been found to be a very useful tool for evaluating the characteristic creep damage of the steels with different microstructure and the corresponding microstructural evolution during creep deformation. The creep deformation process of the α steel is heterogeneous, while the α’+M23C6 steel exhibits gradual changes in the creep rate in both transient and acceleration creep regions with the largest off-set strain, implying the homogeneous creep deformation. The α’+M23C6+ MX steel is in between the α and α’+M23C6 steels. The homogeneous creep deformation takes place in the γ steel.

Abstract: Iron-base superalloys are well known materials having excellent high temperature properties .They are used in turbo superchargers and turbine engines required for aerospace and power plants. In this investigation precipitation hardenable X5NiCrTi26-15 was used to study the influence of microstructural changes on the creep behavior at different conditions . Different creep cycles were applied for both base alloy and laser beam welded alloy (6kW CO2 ) namely at 600 , 625 and 650C at applied controlled creep stresses of 400 and 450 MPa . The base material sheet was used in as solution annealed state ( 30 min, 960 C, WQ ).The specimens were hardened in two steps (24h,760 C, FC and 16 h, 705 C,AC ) before being investigated . The microstructural changes due to grain boundary sliding, intergranual fracture perpendicular to the metal flow axis , and the type ,morphology of different secondary carbides were measured and discussed . To examine the changes in microstructure Philips EM 400 TEM with an acceleration voltage of 120KV, and SEM as well as light microscopy were used . It was found that , laser beam welded structure investigated after creep deformation at temperatures lower than 650C and at controlled stress of 400 and 450 MPa , showed a textured weld metal zone with dendrite having lower hardness combined with a higher creep resistance than that for base material .It was found also that creeping at 650C at the same stress values offsets any gain in creep resistance of welded joints as compared with that for the base material at the same conditions.