Evolution and Coarsening of Carbides in 2. 25Cr-1Mo Steel Weld Metal During High Temperature Tempering

Transformation and coarsening of carbides in 2. 25Cr-1Mo steel weld metal during tempering at 700 °C for different time intervals ranging from 1 to 150 h were examined by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. M 3 C carbides were observed in the as-welded specimens and when tempered, the precipitates were mainly composed of M 3 C, M 7 C 3, and M 23 C 6 carbides. A sequence for corresponding carbide transformation during tempering with initial precipitation of M 3 C and the subsequent precipitation of M 7 C 3 and M 23 C 6 was proposed. The precipitation of M 7 C 3 with higher chromium content was the main factor contributing to the decrease in coarsening rate of precipitates after prolonged tempering. The decrease in hardness of the tempered specimens agreed well with the prediction of the weakening of precipitation strengthening owing to the coarsening of carbides.