The effect of long-term service at elevated temperatures on structure and mechanical properties of Cr-Mo-V steel

摘要

Purpose: of this paper is to reveal the microstructural changes in 13HMF steel exposed to long-term service at elevated temperatures. The degradation of bainite structure was determined and carbides morphology has been examined. The influence of carbides evolution was discussed in dependence of creep rupture strength and mechanical properties of the steel.Design/methodology/approach: Examinations were conducted on 273 mm diameter, 32 mm wall thickness tube made of 13HMF (14MoV6-3) steel. The tube was a segment of stem pipeline used in power plant at 540°C. The service time is 168,000 hours. Microstructure of the material has been examined with the use of light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analysis was used for phase chemical composition identification. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of thin foils was used for carbides structure identification. The mechanical properties of the tube material were evaluated in static tensile tests at room temperature, hardness tests and impact Charpy U tests.Findings: Microstructure of 13HMF steel tube shows an advanced level of degradation - coagulation of carbides at ferrite grain boundaries and inside bainitic grains. Precipitates of carbides decorated grain boundaries in chain forms. The presence of M7C3, M23C6, M6C phases were revealed. After extended service M23C6and M3C carbides were replaced by more stable carbides. This transformation did not occur until the end. This indicates the presence of mainly Mo2C carbide, and only sporadic occurrence of carbide M6C.Practical implications: Useability of the method for assessing the current degradation level and for predicting residual lifetime of creep-resistant tubes based on analysis of carbides morphology was confirmed for Cr-Mo-V steel.Originality/value: Information available in literature does not clearly indicate the influence of microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr-Mo-V steel after long-term exploitation. The study shows such relations