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The study of the evolution of the microstructure and creep properties of Super 304H austenitic stainless steel after aging for up to 50,000 h

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Abstract

The paper discusses several aspects of degradation of Super 304H steel subjected to long-term aging up to 50,000 h at 650 and 750°C. The study includes microstructure examination by scanning and transmission electron microscopy along with X-ray microanalysis of a wide range of precipitates. The Super 304H steel has a structure characteristic for austenitic steels with annealing twins and single primary NBX precipitates of various sizes. Long-term aging leads to precipitation of several phases such as M23C6, MX carbides, σ phases, Z phase and ε-Cu phase. The precipitation processes lead to changes in the creep strength of the tested steel, the value of which strongly depends on the aging temperature used, which is measurably shown by the creep tests carried out with the elongation measured during the test.

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Acknowledgements

The results in this publication were obtained as a part of research co-financed by the National Science Centre under contract 2011/01/D/ST8/07219 – Project: “Creep test application to model lifetime of materials for modern power generation industry”, and co-financed rector's grant in the area of scientific research and development works, Silesian University of Technology, 10/010/RGJ21/1032.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy, K. Miarki 12-14, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland

    A. Zieliński

  2. Office of Technical Inspection, Regional Branch Office Based in Wrocław, ul. Grabiszyńska 51, 53-503, Wrocław, Poland

    R. Wersta

  3. Department of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Konarskiego 18a, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland

    M. Sroka

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Zieliński, A., Wersta, R. & Sroka, M. The study of the evolution of the microstructure and creep properties of Super 304H austenitic stainless steel after aging for up to 50,000 h. Archiv.Civ.Mech.Eng 22, 89 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43452-022-00408-6

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