Abstract
The intercritical heat affected zone (ICHAZ) has been reported as one of the most Type IV cracking susceptible regions in 9Cr creep-resistant steel weldments. However, creep degradation mechanisms within the ICHAZ itself need further clarifications. In this work, two ICHAZ specimens of Grade 91 steel, low-temperature ICHAZ (LT-ICHAZ) and high-temperature ICHAZ (HT-ICHAZ), were simulated using the Gleeble thermomechanical system by exposing to two peak temperatures (860 °C and 900 °C) between AC1 and AC3. Dramatically different creep strengths of two simulated ICHAZs were observed and studied. Dilation curve analysis indicates a high fraction of newly transformed martensite formed in the HT-ICHAZ, which results in a much higher hardness (360 HV0.5) of the HT-ICHAZ than 266 HV0.5 of LT-ICHAZ. Precipitates, especially M23C6 carbides, were not fully dissolved in both ICHAZ specimens. After a typical postweld heat treatment (760 °C-2 hours), the faster recovery of low-carbon martensite and reduced precipitation strengthening due to M23C6 carbides coarsening in the HT-ICHAZ led to a significant hardness reduction. These microstructural degradations in the HT-ICHAZ made its creep lifetime about 36 times shorter than that of the LT-ICHAZ tested at 650 °C. The remaining tempered martensite from base metal in the LT-ICHAZ was the primary contributor to maintain its high creep resistance.
