Modelling and characterization of chi-phase grain boundary precipitation during aging of Fe-Cr-Ni-Mo stainless steel

High molybdenum stainless steels may contain the chi-phase precipitate (χ, Fe36Cr12Mo10) which may lead to undesirable effects on strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. In the present work, specimens of a 12Cr-9Ni-4Mo wt% steel are heat treated at different temperatures and times, and the average particle size and particle size distribution of chi-phase precipitate are studied quantitatively. A computer model based on the KWN framework has been developed to describe the evolution of chi-phase precipitation. The kinetic model takes advantage of the KWN model to describe the precipitate particle size distribution, and is coupled with the thermodynamic software ThermoCalc® for calculating the instantaneous local thermodynamic equilibrium condition at the interface and the driving force for nucleation. A modified version of Zener's theory accounting for capillarity effects at early growth stages is implemented in this model. The prediction of the model for chi-phase precipitation at a grain boundary is compared to experimental results and both the average particle size and the particle size distribution are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations at late precipitation stages.