Part of the book: Nuclear Power
This chapter deals with the change of the structure and mechanical properties of the austenitic steels grades TP347HFG, Super 304H and HR3C as well as their welded joints after the exposure at temperatures corresponding to the ultra-super critical (USC) and advanced ultra-super critical (A-USC) parameters. Several tube bend radii were investigated in order to understand relation between cold work plastic deformation, mechanical properties and the structural changes with special attention to the generation of sigma phase during long-term high temperature exposure. The effect of post bend solution annealing work on the material properties and structural changes was studied, too, using small punch test (SPT) and miniaturized tensile tests taken both from straight part and extrados of bends under investigation. Creep properties of either base metal either welded joints were tested and evaluated using standard creep specimens at temperatures 650, 700 and 750°C. The obtained results confirmed that the mechanical properties and the structure were significantly influenced even after relatively short-time exposure at elevated temperature. The results of experiments were compared with other results obtained from analyses of tubes after 100,000 h of exposure in a USC block where extensive precipitation of sigma phase was also identified.
Part of the book: Austenitic Stainless Steels