G. Michta

Characterization of microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam welded Allvac 718Plus butt welded joint

Allvac 718Plus (718Plus) is a high strength, corrosion resistant commercial polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy developed by ATI ALLVAC over 10 years ago. 718Plus has been designed to fuse the most desired properties of Inconel 718 and Waspaloy, producing advantages of good mechanical properties, higher working temperature than Inconel 718, good fabricability and reasonable cost of production. 718Plus is strengthened by γʹ phase and other precipitates which are located mainly at grains boundaries. Compared to Inconel 718, 718Plus has increased concentration of Al, Ti and Co and decreased amount of Fe. Weldability of 718Plus is comparable to Inconel 718, thus there is a risk of intergranular microcracking in heat affected zone (HAZ). The test joint have been welded autogenously using electron beam at 120 kV accelerating voltage, 10 mA current and 78 cm/min welding speed. The microstructure of casted base material, heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal of electron beam welded 718Plus were investigated by means of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM observations of welded joint microstructure were performed using secondary electrons (SEM–SE). SEM/EDS analysis were carried out. Both MC type carbides and Laves phase were observed in interdendritic regions of base material. The microstructure of heat affected zone was composed of γ matrix, γʹ phase and MC-type carbides, Laves phase and Laves/γ eutectic. In weld metal zone no γʹ precipitates were observed. The microhardness measurements have shown a decrease in weld metal and HAZ. It can be caused by an influence of the welding process thermal cycle.

Pad Welding of Inconel 625 Layer on Structural Steel Used in the Power Industry

Due to aggressive gases produced during combustion process of biomass, some elements of the power boiler should be covered with a material that possesses very high corrosion resistance (e.g. Inconel 625). This paper presents results of microstructural studies of Inconel 625 padding weld on waterwall elements (made of 13CrMo4-5 steel) for steam boiler designed for biomass combustion. The microstructural studies were carried out using Scanning- as well as Transmission Electron Microscopy methods. The padded weld layer exhibited dendritic structure. In the weld layer γ phase with an increased dislocation density and stacking faults was observed. In the base material (13CrMo4-5 steel) titanium nitrides, complex carbides and Laves phase enriched in niobium were observed.

3D Imaging of Strengthening Particles in Cr-V-Mo (13HMF) Steel Using FIB/SEM Tomography

The electron tomography and transmission electron microscopy studies of the carbides in the 0.5Cr-0.5Mo-0.25V (13HMF) low-alloy steel after service during 160 000 h at 540 °C were carried out. Identification of the carbides was performed by means of electron diffraction analysis. Meso-scale tomography technique, mainly FIB/SEM tomography, was used for detailed characterization of spatial distribution and metrology of the carbides in 13HMF steel. The results achieved confirm the ability of FIB tomography to get 3D reconstruction of internal microstructure of steel as well as to obtain information about the shape and spatial distribution of carbides.