Reduction of Intergranular Cracking Susceptibility by Precipitation Control in 2.25Cr Heat-Resistant Steels

This research is performed to decrease reheat cracking susceptibility in the T/P23 heat-resistant steels (2.25Cr1.5WVNbTi), in other words, to reduce phosphorus and sulfur segregation concentration at the prior austenite grain boundary/carbide interfaces (GCIs) and the carbide-free prior austenite grain boundaries (carbide-free PAGBs) causing intergranular cracking. The increase of bulk vanadium content reduces the amount of M₂₃C₆ carbides consuming carbon atoms which can repulse phosphorus and sulfur from interfaces, but promotes the precipitation reaction of V-rich MX carbo-nitrides. Such a precipitation reaction results in the lower segregation concentration of phosphorus or no sulfur at the GCIs and the carbide-free PAGBs. This is because the carbon atoms remaining after precipitation reaction segregates to the interfaces and repels phosphorus and sulfur. Also, tungsten segregation can increase the cohesive grain boundary strength as one of the grain boundary strengtheners. Consequently, the lower segregation concentration of the impurities and the segregation of tungsten atoms lower the intergranular cracking susceptibility.