Creep Deformation, Rupture Analysis, Heat Treatment and Residual Stress Measurement of Monolithic and Welded Grade 91 Steel for Power Plant Components

Modified 9Cr-1 Mo (Grade 91) steel is currently considered as a candidate material for reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) and reactor internals for the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR), and in fossil-fuel fired power plants at higher temperatures and stresses. The tensile creep behavior of Grade 91 steel was studied in the temperature range of 600°C to 750°C and stresses between 35 MPa and 350 MPa. Heat treatment of Grade 91 steel was studied by normalizing and tempering the steel at various temperatures and times. Moreover, Thermo-Ca1c™ calculation was used to predict the precipitate stability and their evolution, and construct carbon isopleths of Grade 91 steel. Residual stress distribution across gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW) in Grade 91 steel was measured by the time-of-flight neutron diffraction using the Spectrometer for Materials Research at Temperature and Stress (SMARTS) diffractometer at Lujan Neutron Scattering Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.;Analysis of creep results yielded stress exponents of ∼9-11 in the higher stress regime and ∼1 in the lower stress regime. The creep behavior of Grade 91 steel was described by the modified Bird-Mukherjee-Dorn relation. The rate-controlling creep deformation mechanism in the high stress regime was identified as the edge dislocation climb with a stress exponent of n = 5. On the other hand, the deformation mechanism in the Newtonian viscous creep regime (n = 1) was identified as the Nabarro-Herring creep. Creep rupture data were analyzed in terms of Monkman-Grant relation and Larson-Miller parameter. Creep damage tolerance factor and stress exponent were used to identify the cause of creep damage. The fracture surface morphology of the ruptured specimens was studied by scanning electron microscopy to elucidate the failure mechanisms. Fracture mechanism map for Grade 91 steel was developed based on the available material parameters and experimental observations. The microstructural evolution of heat treated steel was correlated with the differential scanning calorimetric study. The combination of microstructural studies with optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, microhardness profiles, and calorimetric plots helped in the understanding of the evolution of microstructure and precipitates in Grade 91 steel. The residual stresses were determined at the mid-thickness of the plate, 4.35 mm and 2.35 mm below the surface of the as-welded and post-weld heat treated plate. The residual stresses of the as-welded plate were compared with the post-weld heat treated plate. The post-weld heat treatment significantly reduced the residual stress in the base metal, heat affected zone, and the weld zone. Vickers microhardness profiles of the as-welded, and post-weld heat treated specimens were also determined and correlated with the observed residual stress profile and microstructure.