THE EFFECT OF TUNGSTEN ON DISLOCATION RECOVERY AND PRECIPITATION BEHAVIOR OF LOW-ACTIVATION MARTENSITIC 9CR STEELS

The effect of W on dislocation recovery and precipitation behavior was investigated for martensitic 9Cr-(0,1,2,4)W-0.1C (wt pct) steels after quenching, tempering, and subsequent prolonged aging. The steels were low induced-radioactivation martensitic steels for fusion reactor structures, intended as a possible replacement for conventional (7 to 12)Cr-Mo steels. During tempering after quenching, homogeneous precipitation of fine W2C occurred in martensite, causing secondary hardening between 673 and 823 K. The softening above the secondary hardening temperature shifted to higher temperatures with increasing W concentration, which was correlated with the decrease in self-diffusion rates with increasing W concentration. Carbides M23C6 and M7C3 were precipitated in the 9Cr steel without W after high-temperature tempering at 1023 K. With increasing W concentration, M7C3 was replaced by M23C6, and M6C formed in addition to M23C6. During subsequent aging at temperatures between 823 and 973 K after tempering, the recovery of dislocations, the agglomeration of carbides, and the growth of martensite lath subgrains occurred. Intermetallic Fe2W Laves also precipitated in the delta-ferrite grains of the 9Cr-4W steel. The effect of W on dislocation recovery and precipitation behavior is discussed in detail.