Effects of temperature and strain rate on tensile properties and activation energy for dynamic strain aging in alloy 625

Alloy 625 ammonia cracker tubes were service exposed for 60,000 hours at 873K. These were then subjected to a solution-annealing treatment at 1473 K for 0.5 hours. The effects of temperature and strain rate on the tensile properties of the solution-annealed alloy were examined in the temperature range of 300 to 1023 K, employing the strain rates in the range of 3 X 10-5 s-1 to 3 X 10-3 s-1. At intermediate temperatures (523 to 923 K), various manifestations of dynamic strain aging (DSA) such as serrated flow, peaks, and plateaus in the variations of yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and work-hardening rate with temperature were observed. The activation energy for serrated flow (Q) was determined by employing various methodologies for T < 823 K, where a normal Portevien-Le Chatelier effect (PLE) was observed. The value of Q was found to be independent of the method employed. The average Q value of 98 kJ/mol was found to be in agreement with that for Mo migration in a Ni matrix. At elevated temperatures (T # > 823 K), type-C serrations and an inverse PLE was noticed. The decrease in uniform elongation beyond 873 K for 3 X 10-5 s-1 and 3 X 10-3 s-1 and beyond 923 K for 3 X 10-4 s-1 strain rates seen in this alloy has been ascribed to reduction in ductility due to precipitation of carbides and *d phase on the grain boundaries.