Microstructural degradation of Gr.91 steel during creep under low stress

Microstructural changes during creep at 600 degrees C under 70 MPa were investigated in the case of interrupted Gr.91 steel samples by taking into account the dislocation structure and Z-phase formation. The creep life monotonically increased with a decrease in the applied stress at each temperature considered in the study. However, the long-term creep life was shorter than that determined from the short-term creep data at 600 degrees C and 650 degrees C, meaning premature failure. The subgrain size gradually increased during creep up to 70,000 h, after which rapid subgrain coarsening occurred. Preferential recovery of the subgrain structure occurred around the prior-austenite grain boundary (PAGB) after 50,000 h and 70,000 h. After creep rupture, subgrain recovery was observed over the entire area of each sample. Z-phase formation was clearly visible for 30,000 h after creep. The number density of the MX particles gradually decreased after 30,000 h because of Z-phase formation. After creep rupture, the number density of the MX particles was almost the same as that of the Z-phase particles. During creep, the V content of the Z-phase gradually increased but the Nb content decreased. Changes in the chemical composition of the Z-phase occurred after a longer time in Gr.91 steel than in 12Cr steel. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.