Effects of an intermediate heat treatment during a cold rolling on the tensile strength of a 9Cr–2W steel

The effects of an intermediate heat treatment during a cold rolling on the tensile strength of a 9Cr–2W steel were evaluated. Before a cold rolling, the steel was normalized at 1050 °C and tempered at 550 °C in order to avoid the formation of M23C6 and V-rich MX precipitates in the martensitic structure. A 75% cold rolling and a heat treatment at 750 °C for 30 min induced the formation of large M23C6 carbides in a fully recrystallized structure. However, three cold rollings with an intermediate heat treatment at 750 °C for 10 min after each cold rolling led to the formation of fine and uniform M23C6 carbides in a partially recrystallized structure, providing an enhanced tensile strength at 650 °C. It is thus concluded that an intermediate heat treatment during a cold rolling could be an effective procedure for fabricating a high strength 9Cr–2W steel at high temperatures.