Alumina-forming austenitic stainless steels (AFAs) are potential materials for boiler/steam turbine applications in next generation fossil fuel power plants. They display a combination of good high temperature creep strength, excellent oxidation resistance and low cost. A recently-developed AFA alloy based on Fe-14Cr-32Ni-3Nb-3Al-2Ti (wt.%) shows better creep performance than a commercially-available Fe-based superalloy. In this paper we used scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the fracture surfaces and cracking behavior in relation to the precipitates present in creep failure samples of this alloy tested at either 750°C/100 MPa or 700°C/170 MPa. It was found that most cracks are formed along the grain boundaries with precipitate-free zones beside the grain boundaries potentially providing the path for propagation of cracks.

A new martensitic steel for power generation applications was developed: Tenaris High Oxidation Resistance (Thor) is an evolution of the popular ASTM grade 91, offering improved steam oxidation resistance and better long-term microstructural stability, with equal or better creep strength. Thanks to its design philosophy, based on consolidated metallurgical knowledge of microstructural evolution mechanisms, and an extensive development performed in the last decade, Thor was engineered to overcome limitations in the use of ASTM grade 91, above 600 °C, particularly related to scale growth and liftoff. After laboratory development, Thor was successfully validated at the industrial level. Several heats up to 80 metric tons were cast at the steel shop, hot rolled to tubes of various dimensions, and heat treated. Trial heats underwent extensive characterization, including deep microstructural examination, mechanical testing in the as-received condition and after ageing, long-term creep and steam oxidation testing. This paper presents an overview of metallurgical characterization performed on laboratory and industrial Thor material, including microstructural examination and mechanical testing in time-independent and time-dependent regimes. Data relevant to the behavior and the performance of Thor steel are also included.

High chromium HiperFer (High performance ferritic) materials present a promising concept for the development of high temperature creep and corrosion resistant steels. The institute for Microstructure and Properties of Materials (IEK-2) at Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany develops high strength, Laves phase forming, fully ferritic steels which feature excellent resistance to steam oxidation and better creep life than state of the art 9-12 Cr steels. Mechanical strength properties of these steels depend not only on chemical composition, but can be adapted to various applications by specialized thermo(mechanical) treatment. The paper will outline the sensitivity of tensile, creep, stress relaxation and impact properties on processing and heat treatment. Furthermore an outlook on future development potentials will be derived.

A new martensitic steel was developed for power generation applications. Tenaris High Oxidation Resistance (Thor) is an evolution of Grade 91, designed to have improved steam oxidation resistance and better long-term microstructural stability, with equal or better creep strength. Based on consolidated metallurgical knowledge of microstructural evolution mechanisms, and extensive development performed in the last decade, Thor was engineered to overcome temperature limitations of Grade 91, yet it can be processed in the same fashion, permitting the use of existing best practices for Grade 91 boiler fabrication. Welding trials were performed on Thor tubes and pipe using welding procedures that are routinely employed in the construction of Grade 91 steel components. A summary of relevant results is presented, demonstrating the applicability of long-established and tested welding procedures to components manufactured with Thor steel.

TiO 2 coatings were prepared by plasma and HVOF spray using agglomerated sub-micron TiO 2 powder. Effects of various spray conditions on microstructure, phase ratio, coating thickness have been investigated and then photocatalytic properties was evaluated. It was found that anatase phase ratio decreased gradually with increasing arc current in the plasma spray process, while higher anatase ratio (approximately 50%) was obtained in the HVOF process. The coating thickness increased with increasing arc current and displayed approximately 50mm thickness in the case of 800A although anatase ratio was lower. Thus, the anatase phase ratio and coating thickness exhibited strong dependency on thermal spray method and spray conditions (arc current and fuel gas pressure). The sprayed coatings using sub-micron powder feed showed photo-catalytic decomposition of gaseous NH 3 . As a result of photo-catalytic experiments, TiO 2 coating formed by HVOF spraying showed higher decomposition rate because coating by HVOF showed high anatase ratio. And, moreover, the TiO 2 coating by plasma spray technique also exhibited photocatalytic decomposition of gaseous NH 3 although anatase ratio was lower in comparison with HVOF in present study.