Transformation behaviour of the high temperature martensitic steels with 8 – 14% chromium

Abstract

Comprehensive development work on martensitic steels belonging to the so‐called 12% Cr steel group were performed at the Institute for Materials Research (IMF) of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe on martensitic steels, the so‐called 12% Cr steel group, in order to meet the various requirements in nuclear and conventional energy technology. The transformation characteristics of 29 different grades of steel and 38 heats have been determined and continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams have been prepared. The diagrams are first described by groups of subjects in a chronological order because the change in the chemical composition cannot be correlated in all cases with the change in transformation behaviour.The quenching hardness can be satisfactorily described as a function of the C+N content if, taking into account the Nb, Zr, Ta, Hf fractions, a common effectiveness factor is calculated. This effectiveness factor is also integrated in the calculation of the Ms point by modifying accordingly the equation proposed by Steven and Haynes for low‐alloy steels and supplemented by the summands for V and W. An equation is introduced for the calculation of the critical cooling rate for pearlite transformation which takes into account the special influence exerted by elements Cr, V, Mo, W, Ge. The comparison between calculated and measured values for Ms and Vcrit is satisfactory, except for some steels.