Abstract
Boron and nitride additions are emerging as a promising design concept for stabilizing the microstructure of creep-resistant martensitic high-chromium steels. This approach, known as MarBN steel (martensitic steel strengthened by boron and nitrogen), combines the benefits of solid solution strengthening from boron with precipitation strengthening from nitrides. However, initial welding trials revealed challenges in achieving a uniform fine-grained region in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), which is crucial for mitigating Type IV cracking and ensuring creep strength. Despite these initial hurdles, preliminary creep test results for welded joints have been encouraging. This study presents an improved MarBN steel formulation and its investigation through uniaxial creep tests. Base material and welded joints were subjected to creep tests at 650°C for up to 25,000 hours under varying stress levels. The analysis focused not only on the creep strength of both the base material and welded joints but also on the evolution of damage. Advanced techniques like synchrotron micro-tomography and electron backscatter diffraction were employed to understand the underlying creep damage mechanisms. By combining long-term creep testing data with 3D damage investigation using synchrotron micro-tomography, this work offers a novel perspective on the fundamental failure mechanisms occurring at elevated temperatures within the HAZ of welded joints in these advanced steels.
