Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution of 13Cr Martensitic Stainless Steel

13Cr martensitic stainless steels are widely used in gas industry, which are usually manufactured by quenching-tempering treatment. Microstructural study of 13Cr steel through various heat treatments was carried out for determining the optimum parameters for industry manufacture. After quenching treatment at 975 °C for 20 min, precipitation-free martensitic structures were formed. During tempering, recovery of martensite through grain boundaries migration and dislocations annihilation was found to soften the steel. In addition, transformation of needle-like Cr7C3 carbides to the irregular shaped Cr23C6 carbides was observed when tempering temperature is above 710 °C. The phase transformation induced precipitation strengthening is discussed. The optimum heat treatment parameters of 13Cr steel for avoiding over tempering and the precipitation hardening are found.