Micro-segregation and Precipitation of Alloy 690 during Isothermal Solidification: the Role of Nitrogen Content

The segregation and precipitation behavior of Alloy 690 containing 0.001-0.11 wt% nitrogen during isothermal solidification at 1370 and 1355 °C have been investigated using optical microscopy (OM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the volume fraction of TiN-type nitride formed during isothermal solidification increases with the nitrogen content of Alloy 690. Segregation of Ti and Cr exists in samples solidified at 1370 and 1355 °C. The Ti content in the residual liquid markedly decreases and the concentration of Cr increases when the nitrogen content of Alloy 690 increases. Furthermore, N and S also show segregation to some extent in the residual liquids at 1355 °C. Accompanying by the segregation of Cr, Ti, C, N and S, sulfides and chromium nitrides form. In a low nitrogen content Alloy 690, sulfur segregates and precipitates in the form of Ti4C2S2 and (Cr, Ti)S, but in the form of (Cr, Ti)S or CrS in a high nitrogen content Alloy 690. (Cr, Ti)N-type nitrides with an fcc crystal structure have been identified in a sample with 0.11 wt% nitrogen.