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Precipitation behavior and martensite lath coarsening during tempering of T/P92 ferritic heat-resistant steel

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Abstract

Tempering is an important process for T/P92 ferritic heat-resistant steel from the viewpoint of microstructure control, as it facilitates the formation of final tempered martensite under serving conditions. In this study, we have gained deeper insights on the mechanism underlying the microstructural evolution during tempering treatment, including the precipitation of carbides and the coarsening of martensite laths, as systematically analyzed by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The chemical composition of the precipitates was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results indicate the formation of M3C (cementite) precipitates under normalized conditions. However, they tend to dissolve within a short time of tempering, owing to their low thermal stability. This phenomenon was substantiated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Besides, we could observe the precipitation of fine carbonitrides (MX) along the dislocations. The mechanism of carbon diffusion controlled growth of M23C6 can be expressed by the Zener’s equation. The movement of Y-junctions was determined to be the fundamental mechanism underlying the martensite lath coarsening process. Vickers hardness was estimated to determine their mechanical properties. Based on the comprehensive analysis of both the micro-structural evolution and hardness variation, the process of tempering can be separated into three steps.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Lab of Hydaulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, School of Material Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Lin-qing Xu, Dan-tian Zhang, Yong-chang Liu, Bao-qun Ning, Zhi-xia Qiao, Ze-sheng Yan & Hui-jun Li

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Bao-qun Ning

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China

    Zhi-xia Qiao

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  1. Lin-qing Xu
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  2. Dan-tian Zhang
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  3. Yong-chang Liu
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  4. Bao-qun Ning
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  5. Zhi-xia Qiao
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  6. Ze-sheng Yan
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  7. Hui-jun Li
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Correspondence to Yong-chang Liu.

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Xu, Lq., Zhang, Dt., Liu, Yc. et al. Precipitation behavior and martensite lath coarsening during tempering of T/P92 ferritic heat-resistant steel. Int J Miner Metall Mater 21, 438–447 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0927-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-0927-4

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