Influence of long- term aging and superimposed creep

Abstract

In an effort to understand the effects of long-term aging at high temperatures and those of the superimposed creep stresses on the microstructural variations in a 0.50Cr-0.50Mo-0.25V steel, the shoulder and gage portions of the specimens subjected to stress rupture tests at 500 °C and 540 °C have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The optical microstructure, in the normalized and tempered condition, consists of about 95 pct ferrite with the remainder bainite. The ferrite has an extremely fine precipitation of vanadium carbide (VC) as interphase precipitate as well as in random distribution. In the bainitic area, M 3C is present in the globular as well as plate-like morphology. Specimens ruptured at 500 °C and 540 °C were selected for transmission electron microscopic study. Both the interphase precipitates and randomly distrib- uted precipitates of VC coarsen considerably due to prolonged exposure at elevated tempera- tures, and ultimately fine M 2C platelets nucleate and grow on either side of these precipitates, resulting in the formation of the so-called H-carbides. The superimposed creep stress has a marginal effect on the coarsening kinetics of VC but has enhanced its precipitation along dis- locations and has promoted the formation of H-carbides. © 1992 The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, and ASM International.