On effect of rhenium on mechanical properties of a high-Cr creep-resistant steel

9-12%Cr martensitic steels are perspective materials for critical components of new high-efficiency power plants working at ultra-supercritical parameters of steam. Addition of 0.2% rhenium in the experimental steel improved the short-term creep strength at 650 degrees C. Comparison of kinetics of tungsten depletion from the matrix in different high-Cr martensitic steels showed that rhenium in the experimental 10Cr-3Co-3W-0.2Re steel did not lead to retaining an increased amount of solute W in the ferritic matrix during both aging and creep at 650 degrees C. At the same time, the precipitation of the high fraction of the fine Laves phase particles provided the effective particle strengthening. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.