Direct correlation between morphology of (Fe,Cr)23C6 precipitates and impact behavior of ODS steels

The microstructure of ODS steels was investigated after different thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and analytical TEM techniques, including energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping of the elemental distribution at the nanometer scale. In ‘as-HIPped’ first generation ODS–Eurofer steel the grain boundaries were decorated with Cr-rich precipitates of M23C6 type. In addition, EDX mapping showed Cr-depleted areas at grain boundaries. Thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments of the ODS material affect the size, composition and spatial distribution of the precipitates. Depending on the treatments, the morphology and density of the M23C6 can be systematically varied. A significant decrease in ductile-to-brittle-transition-temperature (DBTT) in impact tests and an improvement in the tensile ductility at high temperature can be directly linked to the changes in precipitate morphology and size.