Laves-phase in the China Low Activation Martensitic steel after long-term creep exposure

Highlights: • The crept specimen was divided into three regions according to stress levels. • The creep stress could enhance the microstructure recovery. • Laves phase showed different features along the length of crept specimen. • The density of Laves phase was high, while its size was small near the neck region. • The creep stress enhanced the formation of Laves phase during creep. - Abstract: Creep test at 600 °C under 130 MPa for the China Low Activation Martensitic (CLAM) steel was performed up to 7913 h in this study. According to the stress level, the crept specimen was divided into three regions in order to investigate the influence of stress on Laves-phase formation. In addition to the expected M₂₃C₆ carbide and MX carbonitride, the amount and the size of Laves phase in these three regions on the crept specimen were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Laves phase could be found in all the regions and the creep stress could promote the formation of Laves phase