Kinetics of the Formation of Intermetallic Phases in HP-Type Heat-Resistant Alloys at Long-Term High-Temperature Exposure

The kinetics of formation and morphology of the intermetallic phases in the structure of heat-resistant as-cast HP40NbTi alloys in the course of long high-temperature exposure have been studied with the help of light and electron microscopy, electron microprobe, and X-ray diffraction. During exposure of 2 to 1000 hours at 1423 K (1150 °C), intermetallic phase with conditional formula Cr₇Ni₅Si₃N₃FeNb is formed in the alloy. The analysis of the kinetics of intermetallic phase’s growth for an impact assessment of certain metal substitutional elements (niobium, chromium, silicon) on the size of the formed particles was performed. Formation and growth of the intermetallic phases with high silicon content in the alloy structure on the boundaries between niobium and chromium carbides (NbC and M₂₃C₆) and matrix γ-phase provide a diffusion barrier for oxygen in oxidizing environment. This may create partial protection against oxidation of hardening carbide phases in the structure and promote increasing of the serviceability of the HP series alloys under operating conditions in the petrochemical industry.