Thermal stability of microstructures and mechanical properties in a Fe-based Fe-Cr-Mn-Cu-Mo multi-component alloy

ABSTRACTA Fe-based multi-component alloy, 60Fe-12Cr-10Mn-15Cu-3Mo, was designed and fabricated for nuclear applications in the present study. The crystal structure of the alloy is a ∼85% body – and 15% face–centered cubic. A detailed microstructure analysis indicated that Cu segregated in the alloy to form Cu-rich precipitates, and the Cu precipitates grew during high temperature annealing at up to 773 K. The high temperature tensile test of the alloys showed that both the yield stress and tensile strength of the 60Fe-12Cr-10Mn-15Cu-3Mo were greater than those of typical austenitic and ferritic stainless steels at 773 K. The Vickers microhardness of the designed alloy did not change after high temperature annealing for 1 h at up to 1073 K. The results indicated that the designed alloy has the potential to be used for high temperature applications.