Variation of mechanical properties with addition of Al in low activity ferritic/martensitic heat resistant steels

The effect of aluminum on mechanical properties in low activation martensitic steel has been studied. Impact test and tensile test were performed at high temperature. Aluminum is in solid solution state after normalizing so the grain size of prior austenite was not changed. AlN was precipitated during tempering treatment. The size of Cr2N precipitates were decreased due to the precipitation of AlN in 0.10wt.%N steel. But the precipitation of nitride such as V(C,N) and Cr2N was suppressed by the formation of AlN in 0.08wt.%N steel. The addition of aluminum have little effect on the impact properties such as DBTT and upper shelf energy. The increase of tensile strength and yield strength by addition of aluminum appeared in 0.10wt.%N steel, but not in 0.08wt.%N steel. But the tensile and yield strength of aluminum added 0.10wt.%N steel is not higher than that of 0.08wt.%N steel