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Quantitative study on area fraction of precipitated carbides of HP40Nb steel as a function of service period

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Abstract

Life assessment predictions of reformer tubes of HP40Nb grade steel used in the petrochemical industry were investigated by quantitative metallographic evaluations of the area fractions of precipitated carbides. Correlations were established between the field-service periods and area fractions of the carbides via microstructural analysis. The microstructures of the virgin and other tubes were examined using optical microscopy (OM) for service periods of 1.8, 6.0, 7.2, 8.5, 9.7, and 16.2 years at 950 °C. The area fractions of the precipitates were measured by image analysis using ImageJ software. The results showed that increase in the area fractions of the precipitates was almost proportional to increase their service times. The relationships between area fractions of the precipitates and service times were also discussed for a 6-year cracked tube and a tube that had been in service for 11.5 years at another furnace. The obtained relationship can thus be used via the surface replication method for on-site residual life assessments.

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Abbreviations

C :

Larson-Miller constant

LMP :

Larson-Miller parameter

t :

Service period (hour)

T :

Temperature (K)

x :

Measured area fraction of precipitate (%)

X :

Service period (year)

y :

Residual life (year)

Y :

Area fraction of precipitate (%)

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Scholarship Grants in 2020 (Mr. Hyung Ki Ryu). The research was also supported by the KOEN (Proj. No. 2020-Hyunjang(Balun)-01) funded to Prof. Kee Bong Yoon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Korea

    Hyo Jung Bang, Thi Giang Le, Joo Yong Kim, Hyung Ki Ryu & Kee Bong Yoon

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  1. Hyo Jung Bang
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  2. Thi Giang Le
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  3. Joo Yong Kim
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  4. Hyung Ki Ryu
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  5. Kee Bong Yoon
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Thi Giang Le or Kee Bong Yoon.

Additional information

Hyo Jung Bang received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Chungbuk National University and M.S. from Yonsei University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Chung-Ang University. His research interests are high temperature fracture mechanics and remaining life assessment of industrial facilities.

Thi Giang Le received her B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology. She received M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Chung-Ang University. She is currently a Postdoctoral fellow at Chung-Ang University. Her research interest is creep behavior and aging characteristics of the high temperature alloy materials.

Joo Yong Kim received his M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Chung-Ang University, Korea in 2016. His research interests are microstructural analysis, reliability and life assessment of structural material such as reformer tube and energy plants.

Hyung Ki Ryu received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Gyeongsang National University. He is currently a M.S. candidate at Chung-Ang University. His research interests are high temperature fracture mechanics and remaining life assessment of industrial facilities.

Kee Bong Yoon received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University, M.S. from KAIST and Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is currently a Professor at Chung-Ang University. His research interests are high temperature fracture and risk based management of energy plants and semiconductor plants. He is extending research to fracture of additive manufactured materials.

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Bang, H.J., Le, T.G., Kim, J.Y. et al. Quantitative study on area fraction of precipitated carbides of HP40Nb steel as a function of service period. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 3793–3801 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-2102-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-2102-y

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