Features of Phase Transformations of Low-activation 12%-Chromium Ferritic-Martensitic Steel Ek-181

An investigation of the features of structural-phase transformations during heating and cooling of the lowactivation 12%-chromium ferritic-martensitic steel EK-181 (Fe-12Cr-2W-V-Ta-B) is performed in the range of temperatures from 30 to 1100 degrees C by the methods of high-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) in situ. The critical points of an (alpha ->gamma) - transformation (A(c1) approximate to 850 degrees C, A(c3) approximate to 950 degrees C) in the course of steel heating and the temperature interval (910-890 degrees C) of the diffusion-induced transformation of the austenite ->alpha-ferrite type under cooling are determined. It is shown that the position of these points changes depending on the method (XRD or differential scanning calorimetry) of their identification, which is attributed to the differences in their heating-cooling rates. During heating in the range of temperatures of 830-875 degrees C, a significant increase in the volume fraction of \M23C6 carbides is observed. Further temperature increase up to 1000-1100 degrees C leads to their complete dissolution. In the course of cooling of the steel specimens from 1100 to 30 degrees C, there is no carbide particle precipitation.