Effect of Ausageing on the Precipitation Behavior of MX Carbonitride in Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel

Abstract:

The precipitation behavior of MX carbonitride during a normalizing heat treatment with and without ausageing was investigated in a modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. The normalizing heat treatment was performed at 1150 oC for 1800 s. Ausageing was conducted at 765 and 500 oC for 1800 to 86400 s during the cooling from the heat treatment. The matrix of the steel was austenite single phase during normalizing and ausageing, except for that ausaged at 765 oC for 86400 s. The initial austenite grain size and hardness were not influenced by ausageing, except for the sample ausaged at 765 oC for 86400 s. Although Nb-rich MX (NbX) and cementite were observed, V-rich MX (VX) was not observed under any of the conditions investigated. The amount of NbX in the steel ausaged at 500 oC was at least twice as large as that under the other conditions, and the amount in the steel ausaged at 760 oC was slightly larger than that in the steel that did not undergo ausageing. The precipitation of NbX took place during ausageing in the austenite matrix. On the other hand, it is well known that VX precipitates during tempering. An equilibrium mole fraction of VX in the austenite matrix calculated by Thermo-Calc. was larger than that of NbX at the ausageing temperatures. It is proposed that VX is an equilibrium phase at the ausageing temperature; however, VX nucleation takes much longer in the austenite matrix. It is postulated that the precipitation of VX is more strongly influenced by the interfacial energy rather than supersaturation. It is concluded that the precipitation of MX carbonitride, especially NbX, can be controlled by ausageing during cooling after a normalizing heat treatment.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 539-543)
• Pages: 2976-2981
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.539-543.2976
• Online since: March 2007
• Authors: Masataka Yoshino, Yoshinao Mishima, Yoshiaki Toda, Hideaki Kushima, Kota Sawada, Kazuhiro Kimura
• Keywords: 9Cr Steel, Ausageing, Microstructure, MX Carbonitride, Precipitation Behaviour

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