Abstract:
In the practical use at high temperature of TIG weldments between P22 (2.25Cr steel) and P91 (9Cr steel) using Inconel 625 or Inconel 617 as filer metals, cracking at the heat affected zone (HAZ) of P91 steel was reported. In order to understand this cracking problem, the effect of postweld heat treatment (PWHT) at 750°C for 2, 4, and 6 hrs, as well as the effect of long-term heat treatment (LTHT) at 550, 633, 717 and 800°C for 500, 1000, 2000 and 2500 hrs on microstructure and hardness of weldments were studied.The hardness at HAZ of P91 steel after PWHT at 750°C for 2 hrs was higher than those after PWHT at 750°C for 4 and 6 hrs, but it was not in excess of 350 HV, which is the general limit value for welding of steel. The hardness at HAZ of P91 after PWHT and LTHT at 633°C for 1,000 hours was higher than those at the other conditions. The hardness was reduced after PWHT and LTHT at 633°C for 2,000 hours. The martensite microstructure was changed to be tempered martensite and carbide. The Inconel-625 or Inconel-617 weld metals, after PWHT at 750°C for 4, 6 hours and LTHT at 633°C for 1000 hours, had the highest hardness. The microstructures of those weld metals observed by SEM showed some precipitates in the grain and carbide at the grain boundary. This was responsible for the high hardness.In any case of the PWHT and LTHT conditions, the microstructure and hardness at the base metals of P22 and P91 steels were not changed. The hardness at HAZ of P22 steel was not so high.