Creep deformation and rupture behaviour of 9Cr–1W–0.2V–0.06Ta Reduced Activation Ferritic–Martensitic steel

This paper presents the creep deformation and rupture behaviour of indigenously produced 9Cr–1W–0.2V–0.06Ta Reduced Activation Ferritic–Martensitic (RAFM) steel for fusion reactor application. Creep studies were carried out at 773, 823 and 873 K over a stress range of 100–300 MPa. The creep deformation of the steel was found to proceed with relatively shorter primary regime followed by an extended tertiary regime with virtually no secondary regime. The variation of minimum creep rate of the material with applied stress followed a power law relation, έm = Aσn, with stress exponent value ‘n’ decreasing with increase in temperature. The product of minimum creep rate and creep rupture life was found to obey the modified Monkman–Grant relation. The time to onset of tertiary stage of deformation was directly proportional to rupture life. TEM studies revealed relatively large changes in martensitic sub-structure and coarsening of precipitates in the steel on creep exposure as compared to thermal exposure. Microstructural degradation was considered as the prime cause of extended tertiary stage of creep deformation, which was also reflected in the damage tolerance factor λ with a value more than 2.5. In view of the microstructural instability of the material on creep exposure, the variation of minimum creep rate with stress and temperature did not obey Dorn's equation modified by invoking Lagneborg and Bergman's concepts of back stress.

► Creep tests on broad temperature and stress ranges were carried out. ► Microstructural instability on creep and thermal exposures were studied using TEM. ► Creep damage tolerance factor of the material was estimated.