Precipitation of Nano-Sized Z-Phase in HR3C Austenitic Heat Resistant Steel

Effect of heat treatment on the precipitation behavior of secondary phases in a HR3C austenitic heat resistant steel was investigated. The microstructure of the steel in solution-treated state consists of austenitic matrix and coarse Z-phase particles. After aging treatment at 650–950°C for 1h, M23C6-type carbide precipitates along random grain boundaries. Dense and homogeneous nanosized Z-phase precipitates within austenite grains are obtained by an aging treatment at a temperature between 800 and 900°C for 1h. The high density of dislocation walls produced during the water-cooling process after solution treatment facilitate the precipitation of the nanosized Z-phase. With increasing the aging temperature, the hardness initially drops, then increases and reaches a peak when the aging temperature is at 850°C due to the precipitation of the nanosized Z-phase.Copyright © 2013 by ASME