Effect of V and Nb on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of high Cr steel

Employment of high Cr steel as a main structural material is considered as a way to achieve economical competitiveness of fast breeder reactors. V and Nb are believed to improve the high temperature strength of high Cr steels by precipitating as carbides and/or nitrides, namely fine MX particles. However, the long term efficiency and stability of such precipitation strengthening mechanisms provided by the fine MX particles have not been clarified yet. A series of trial products controlling V and Nb contents is produced and mechanical tests are conducted to investigate the effect of these elements on the mechanical properties and the long term stability of the MX strengthening mechanism. Before and after a long term aging process, metallurgical examinations and quantitative analyses are conducted to investigate the effect of these elements on microstructure evolutions. Based on these results, the long term efficiency and stability of the strengthening mechanisms provided by the fine MX particles are discussed. Higher strength and lower ductility are obtained with the increases of V and Nb contents, although the influence of Nb content tends to be saturated at about 0.01 mass%. MX does not grow and any new precipitates cannot be observed after aging at 873 K for 6000 h. Therefore, it is expected that MX is stable after aging at 823 K for approximately 167,000 h based on Larson-Miller parameter.