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

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. M3 C carbides were observed in the as-welded specimens and when tempered, the precipitates were mainly composed of M3 C, M7 C3, and M23 C6 carbides. A sequence for corresponding carbide transformation during tempering with initial precipitation of M3 C and the subsequent precipitation of M7 C3 and M23 C6 was proposed. The precipitation of M7 C3 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.