Microstructure evolution during low-strain thermo-mechanical processing and its repercussion on intergranular corrosion in alloy 600H

Highlights: • GBE microstructure in alloy 600H is realized through the sole activation of SIBM. • Higher TRD size and lower fractal dimension are characteristics of GBE microstructure. • Partially/fully recrystallized specimen shows higher DOS than as-received condition. • GBE specimen shows remarkable resistance against percolation and grain dropping. • Extent of percolation is governed by residual strain and random HAGBs connectivity. - Abstract: The current investigation deals with the evolution of microstructures as a consequence of varying processing parameters viz. extent of deformation, annealing temperature and time during grain boundary engineering (GBE) type thermo-mechanical processing in alloy 600H. Furthermore, the influence of the various product microstructures (viz. partially recrystallized, fully recrystallized and GBE) on intergranular corrosion is evaluated and compared with the as-received condition. Detailed characterization of the as-processed specimens have revealed that lower extent of deformation (7.5%) followed by a longer annealing treatment (i.e. 60 min) at a higher temperature (1373 K) could lead to a GBE microstructure with a higher proportion of Σ3ⁿ boundaries (~72%) due to the predominant activation of multiple twinning. In contrast, the specimens associated with moderately higher extent of deformation (10% and 15%) have revealed the occurrence of static recrystallization. The GBE specimen has demonstrated an excellent resistance against percolation essentially due to its discontinuous random high angle boundaries (HAGBs) network. In contrast, the nucleation of the finer grains in the recrystallized specimens caused the regeneration of random HAGBs network (as substantiated by the fractal analysis) that leads to higher percolation and severe grain dropping. In spite of the similar grain boundary character distribution, the severity of corrosion is relatively lesser in the as-received condition than the completely recrystallized specimen owing to its coarse-grained microstructure that commendably retarded the diffusion of chromium from the grain interior to the boundary.