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The effect of carbonitrides on the growth of austenite grains in high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel was investigated through microstructure analysis and high-resolution dilatometry. The austenite grain growth at various temperatures was measured in situ using high temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy. Two kinds of precipitates with different morphologies containing large amounts of Ti and Nb were observed in the austenitized samples at different temperatures. The smaller Nb-rich spherical carbonitrides dissolved at the higher temperature, while the lager Ti-rich rectangular carbonitrides have a higher thermal stability and can pin at the austenite grain boundary. This study reveals that the dissolution of Nb in austenite causes the rapid growth of austenite grains and slows down the ferrite phase transition, which is beneficial to the formation of bainite. A kinetic model of austenite growth considering the dynamic dissolution of different types of carbonitrides is proposed. The results of the model show the same overall trend as the experimental results, and the individual differences can be explained. The proposed model can be used to predict the austenite grain size during the austenitizing process of HSLA steel and can reflect the austenite grain change throughout the process more continuously. • Two carbonitrides with different thermal stability at the high temperature were found. • The dissolution of Nb element affect the austenite grain size and also affect the phase transition in the cooling process. • Providing a new method to predict the pinning pressure and the austenite grain size with increasing time from dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of η phase and its effect on the tensile properties at 700 °C in 718Plus superalloy after three solution (at 940 °C for 1 h) and single aging (at 870 °C for 25 h, 50 h and 100 h) heat treatments, were investigated. The results showed that there were several various morphologies of η phase in 718Plus samples. As aging time increased, the volume fraction of needle-like/plate-like increased continuously from 5.32%, 7.78% to 29.52%, while the volume of granular/short rod-like η phase firstly increased from 0.46% to 0.68% then decreased to 0.56%. The high temperature tensile properties were affected by η phases with various morphologies. With aging time increasing, the ultimate tensile strength was obviously improved from 797.11 MPa to 860.57 MPa, which could be attributed to a certain number of plate-like/needle-like η phases at the grain boundaries which could hinder the dislocations motion near the grain boundaries. And the elongation weakly increased firstly from 16.84% to 18.76% and then decreased to 18%, which was closely related to granular/short-rod η phases. Enhancing tensile strength and acceptable ductility could be obtained by morphology control of η phase applying SA heat treatments in the study: promoting the simultaneous precipitation of an appropriate amount of plate-like/needle-like η phases and a small amount of granular/short rod-like η phases. • The morphologies of η phases found in studied 718Plus superalloy samples are plate-like/needle-like, granular/short rod-like. • With aging time extending, the volume fraction of needle-like/plate-like increased, resulting in improving tensile strength. • By applying SA aging heat treatments, an enhancing tensile strength could be obtained by morphology control of η phase [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allvac 718Plus alloy is a newly-developed Ni-based superalloy with excellent thermal stability and mechanical performance at elevated temperatures up to 704 °C. The precipitation behavior of the rapidly-solidified Allvac 718Plus superalloy during aging is systematically investigated in this work. The microstructure evolutions of the strengthening γ' phase and the γ'/γ″ co-precipitates during aging are examined. During aging, the "duplet" γ'/γ″ and "triplet" γ″/γ'/γ″ occur and then disappear due to the dissolution of γ″ phase, which is promoted by the δ precipitation. On the contrary, the "triplet" γ'/γ″/γ' forms and remains after aging, resulting from the low diffusion rate of solute atoms through the spheroidal γ' precipitates. The lamellar δ-Ni 3 Nb phase occurs at grain boundaries. Its size and content increase with the prolongation of aging time. After long-term thermal exposure, the hexagonal η phase forms at the δ-γ interface due to the variations of local chemical composition, and then the tetragonal Cr-rich σ phase nucleates adjacent to the δ and η particles because of the segregation of Cr atoms rejected from the δ and η particles. • The rapidly-solidified γ-matrix of 718Plus is obtained with a supersaturated solid solution and a high density of defects. • The dissolution of ellipsoidal γ″ results in the disappearance of the "duplet" γ'/γ″ and "triplet" γ″/γ'/γ″. • The "triplet" γ'/γ″/γ' is remained due to the low diffusion rate of solute atoms through the spheroidal γ' precipitates. • The lamellar δ forms first and the η and σ phases successively nucleate at the δ-γ interface after long-time thermal exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural evolution during long-term thermal exposure of Alloy 617 is investigated in detail. During processing, various precipitation phases were formed, including MC, M 23 C 6 , M 6 C and γ', in which the M 23 C 6 carbide is the primary strengthening phase and determines the hardness of Alloy 617. The M 23 C 6 carbides can either form from decomposing MC or precipitate directly from the γ matrix, but they most eventually transformed to M 6 C carbides after long-term aging. In addition to the phase transformation among various carbides, the morphology evolution of M 23 C 6 carbide is found to have a significant effect on the formation of γ' phase, which is closely related to the redistribution behavior of Al and Ti between M 23 C 6 and γ matrix. We also identified a faster evolution kinetic of the precipitates at grain boundary than those in grain interior, which is caused by the different local diffusion rates. This work elucidates the transformation sequence among different precipitates and the corresponding alloy element redistribution behavior during aging Alloy 617, which shed lights on the strengthening phase design and can in turn optimize the mechanical properties of Alloy 617. • The study reveals the variation of precipitates during long-term aging and its strong link to the element diffusion and redistribution behaviors. • The morphology evolution of M 23 C 6 carbide can promote the precipitation of γ' particles. • The evolution between different precipitated phases is much faster at grain boundary than that in grain interior. • M 23 C 6 carbide is mainly strengthening phase, which determines the hardness of Alloy 617. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation of η phase during the solution treatments of Allvac 718Plus was investigated in this study. The results showed that there was free-γ′ zone appearing around η phase which was consistent with the hexagonal η-Ni 3 (Al/Ti) 0.5 Nb 0.5 after heat treatments. The granular η phase was found to be the transition of the plate-like η phase and have no pinning effect against the grain boundary, while the plate-like η phase has a pinning effect on the grain boundary and leads to the formation of serrated grain boundaries. With the solution temperature increasing, the size and fraction of η phase were observed to increase and then decrease with the morphology changing from granular to plate-like and then to granular. With the solution time prolonging, the fraction and size of η phase were increased, and the η phase formed in a cellular mode and then grow in a Widmanstätten morphology into the grain with its morphology changing from the dominant granular/plate-like to Widmanstättan structure. It was found that the increase in room temperature microhardness with the solution time changing from 6 h to 24 h was caused by the formation of Widmanstätten η phase. • The granular η phase is the transition of the plate-like η phase,having no pinning effect against the grain boundary. • The content and morphology of η phase changes with the solution temperature increasing. • The η phase forms in a cellular mode and then grow in a Widmanstätten morphology with the solution time prolonging. • The increase in microhardness with the solution time from 6 h to 24 h is closely related to the Widmanstätten η phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]