Formation of G-phase in 20Cr32Ni1Nb Stainless Steel and its Effect on Mechanical Properties

A series of tensile tests, Charpy impact tests, optical microscopy observations, and field emission-scanning electron microscopy examinations, were carded out to investigate the mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of 20Cr32NilNb steel. Experimental results indicate that the as-cast microstructure of the steel typically consists of a supersaturated solid solution of austenite matrix with a network of interdendritic primary carbides （NbC and M23C6）. In the ex-service samples, large amounts of secondary carbides precipitate within austenite matrix. Besides the growth and coarsening of NbC and M23C6 carbides during service condition, the Ni-Nb silicides known as G-phase （Nil6Nb6Si7） are formed at the interdendritic boundaries. The microstructural evolution results in the degradation of the mechanical properties of the ex-service steel. In addition, the precipitate rate of G-phase, depending in part on Si content, varies greatly for the 20Cr32NilNb steel, which plays a key role in the long-term microstructural stability of the steel. Based on the X-ray diffraction data, time-temperature-transformation curve for the steel is obtained from the aged specimens.