Effect of long-term aging on microstructural stabilization and mechanical properties of 20Cr32Ni1Nb steel

The centrifugally cast 20Cr32Ni1Nb stainless steel aged at 950 ℃ from 200 h up to 5000 h was investigated on the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution using post-aged tensile tests, post-aged Charpy impact tests, Optical microscopy (OM) observations, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) examinations. Experimental results indicate that the as-cast microstructure of the steel typically consists of a supersaturated solid solution of austenite matrix with a network of interdendritic primary carbides (NbC and M₂₃C₆). During aging process, the growth and coarsening of NbC carbides and M₂₃C₆ carbides as well as the transformation of NbC carbide into G phase take place. Meanwhile, the transformation of NbC into G phase releases C into the matrix during aging exposure. This released C tends to combine with Cr, and forms M₂₃C₆ at the dendrite boundaries. Compared with a continuous reduction of the elongation in the whole aging period, the strength parameters (σ_ult and σ_ys) exhibit an initial increase followed by a continuous decrease with the aging time prolonged from 1000 h to 5000 h. Additionally, the variation of Charpy impact absorbed energy is relatively complex during aging process. The microstructural evolution during long-term aging process is consistent with the variation of mechanical properties.