Influence of temperature on the fatigue properties of alloy 690

Owing to good resistance to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC), Alloy 690 as steam generator tubing material is today used to replace Alloy 600 in nuclear steam generators. Besides the behaviour in corrosive environments, the response of strain or stress controlled fatigue is also important. Low cycle fatigue tests for hot-extruded tube material of Alloy 690 (Sandvik Sanicro 69) have been performed under total strain-control mode at room temperature (RT) and at elevated temperature (2040C). Rectangular specimens taken from the longitudinal axis of the tubes were used. The influences of temperature and strain amplitude on the fatigue life and cyclic deformation behaviour have been investigated. The fatigue life related to plastic strain is somewhat better at 2040C than at room temperature, but the difference is rather small. The fatigue life related to total strain at these two temperatures is comparable. The test results are compared with the existing model for Alloy 600. They show a relatively good agreement in the small strain range. This material at 2040C shows a cyclic stress response with a cyclic strain hardening first, followed by a relatively stable stress and finally a second cyclic strain hardening, which has rarely been reported on the strain-controlled fatigue at elevated temperature. TEM investigation shows that the material at 2040C has a dislocation structure with planar slip mode, which is less damaging or more fatigue resistant. The mechanisms for the second cyclic strain hardening have also been discussed. (author)