Temper embrittlement dynamics induced by non-equilibrium segregation of phosphorus in steel 12Cr1MoV

Temper embrittlement dynamics were experimentally studied in an industrial steel 12Cr1MoV. Results showed that both the concentration of phosphorus atoms in grain boundaries and the degree of embrittlement reaches a maximum at the critical time. It can be satisfactorily elucidated by the temper embrittlement mechanism of non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation caused by cooling from solution temperature to isothermal holding temperature. An embrittlement prediction method for steel in service is proposed based on this mechanism.