On the effect of thermo-mechanical treatment on creep deformation and rupture behaviour of a reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel

Creep deformation and rupture behaviour of a reduced activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel subjected to thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) is studied and compared with those of conventional normalized and tempered (N + T) steel. In TMT processing, the steel is warm rolled and aged in austenite phase field at 973 K before the martensite transformation on cooling and is then tempered at 1038 K. The TMT processing renders the steel with higher dislocation density, refinement in lath structure and large quantity of finer M23C6 and MX precipitates than those in the N + T steel. Creep tests are carried out at 823 K over the stress range 180–300 MPa. TMT processing of the steel decreases its minimum creep rate (ε˙min) with corresponding increase in time to onset of tertiary stage of creep deformation, rupture life (tr) and creep rupture ductility (εf). The stress exponent value (n), obtained from minimum creep rate vs. stress plot, increases upon TMT processing, indicating high resistance to creep deformation than in the N + T steel. Resisting stress as estimated based on the Lagneborg and Bergman method is found to increase on TMT processing and is associated with high damage tolerance parameter, defined asλ=εf/(ε˙min.tr). Enhanced creep deformation and rupture strength of the TMT steel, compared to N + T steel, is attributed to the microstructural refinement. Post-creep microstructural investigations show higher microstructural stability of the steel on TMT processing and are in line with the observed high damage tolerance parameter (λ), longer time to onset of tertiary creep and rupture life. •Creep behaviour of RAFM steel was investigated in N + T and TMT conditions.•TMT decreases minimum creep rate with increase in rupture life and ductility.•TMT results in increased stress exponent, damage parameter and resisting stress.•TMT imparts higher microstructural stability than N + T.