Papers by Keyword: σ-Phase

Abstract: Effect of the alloy initial structure before remelting on the melt viscosity, its state prior to crystallization, and on processes occurring in the alloy in solid state during its subsequent treatment was investigated using EK77 alloy. The study was performed by means of torsional oscillation of the melt with crucible, scanning electron microscopy, and optical metallography.

Abstract: The paper deals with the change of the structure and mechanical properties of the austenitic steels after the exposure at the critical temperature. The effects of the bend radius of tubes including effect of solution annealing on the mechanical properties and the structure were studied. The mechanical properties were studied using small punch test (SPT) and miniaturized tensile tests. From the results can be concluded that the mechanical properties and the structure have been influenced due to one year exposure at the working temperature significantly. Various amounts of σ-phase were found in the pulled part of the bend side of the tubes even after only thermal exposure without any loading. The effect of the heat treatment and the bend radius on the mechanical properties and the structure was also evident. Drop in fracture energy due to the presence of the σ-phase in the structure was clearly detected from force - displacement record of the small punch test. Keywords: Austenitic steels, bends, σ-phase, small punch test

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heat treatment (930°C, 1080°C, 1230°C) followed by quenching on the pitting corrosion resistance, sigma phase precipitation, and microstructural change of a super duplex stainless steel (UNS S32750) welds made by gas tungsten arc (GTA). Based on the microstructural examination, the σ phase was formed in welds heat treated at 930°C while there were little σ phases formed in welds experienced the relatively fast cooling from 1080°C and 1230°C. Accordingly, the most weight loss due to pitting corrosion occurred in the as received base and weld metals heat treated at 930°C. It was confirmed that the pitting corrosion occurred in the phase boundaries of ferrite/sigma and austenite/sigma.

Abstract: A commercial 2507 duplex stainless steel with different solution treatments followed by aging at 850°C has been investigated. At the early aging time of 850°C, the σ-phase precipitate was predominantly distributed at the δ/γ interface, as the isothermal aging time was increased to 150 min, more σ-phase precipitate formed in ferrite and became coarser by a eutectoid reaction δσ+γ₂. The amount of δ-ferrite decreased rapidly at the beginning of aging for 80 minutes, increasing solution treatment temperature from 1060°C to 1230°C delayed decomposition of δ-ferrite due to lowering σ-phase formation element (Cr). The reaction rate K and σ-phase precipitation rate were lowered by increasing solution treatment temperature from 1060°C to 1230°C.

Abstract: Effect of solution treated temperature at 5001100°C on ferrite/austenite ratio and σ phase precipitation has been studied in this paper, and the tensile properties after solution treatment at 950°C and 1050°C is compared. The results shows that the ferrite/austenite ratio treated 1050~1100°C is about 1:1; and the formation of σ phase occurs in the ferrite or at ferrite - austenite boundary. The quantity of the σ phase precipitation increases firstly and then decreases with increase of the solution treatment temperature, reaching the maximum at 900°C, and disperse at above 1050°C. Tensile tests show that the fracture is brittle divided and stretched by ductile belt at 950°C, and ductile at 1050°C.

Abstract: The atomic site distribution of the complex σ-phase structure (P42/mnm) has been studied using density functional theory (within the EMTO and WIEN2k codes) applying the cluster expansion method in a mean field approximation at finite temperatures. We found that at low temperatures Fe atoms predominantly occupy the icosahedrally coordinated (A,D) sites, Cr atoms prefer the (B,E) sites with the high coordination numbers, while the C site remains mixed. However, at higher temperature close to 1000 K all occupations become more and more mixed and reproduce well the available experimental data.

Abstract: The evolution of microstructure during production and elevated temperature service of type 347 austenitic stainless steel in the temperature range 700-800°C was modelled using commercial software packages such as Thermo-Calc and DICTRA and characterized using various microscopical techniques. The growth and coarsening of niobium carbonitrides and σ- phase were modelled as well as nitrogen uptake. Good agreement between predictions and microstructural observations was found.