Study of microstructure evolution in F/M steel T91 by in-situ synchrotron wide-angle X-rays scattering

T91 ferritic-martensitic (F/M) steel is one of the leading candidates for high temperature structural materials in advanced nuclear power applications. In situ Wide-angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) was used to investigate T91 during tensile test under 3 different temperatures: room temperature (RT), 450C, 550C, respectively. By fitting scattering patterns, information of diffraction peaks and their variation trends with respect to macroscopic strain were recorded for further analysis of Fe matrix, M23C6 and MX precipitates. Lattice strain of Fe matrix and precipitates were obtained from peaks shift in WAXS pattern during tensile test. Load partitioning effect, which is known as precipitates can bear higher load than Fe matrix, was found to be less obvious within plastic regime with the increase of temperature from RT to 550C. Peak broadening, represented by full width at half maximum (FWHM), was carefully analyzed using modified Williamson-Hall (W-H) plots to separate strain and crystalline size effects due to their different theta dependence. It was found that dislocation density rho in Fe matrix behaved differently within different tensile regimes: before Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), they all increased; after UTS, it plateaued first then increased at end for RT, remained stable for 450C while decreased continuously for 550C. Coherent scattering length L310 calculated by Scherrer Equation using Fe(310) plane behaved as below: before UTS, they all decreased; after UTS, it decreased continuously for RT, remained stable for 450C and rose dramatically for 550C. The variation trends of both dislocation density and coherent scattering length L310 were impacted by combination effect from high temperature and tensile flow stress evolution. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Micropy (OM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were also used to study the post-tensile samples. SEM found that at RT tensile fracture happened violently with huge cracks on necking center cross-section, while fracture happened slowly with voids and dimples on cross-section under higher temperatures. SEM Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping also found that rupture protrusions on necking center edges had higher C and N concentration than that of metallic elements. OM revealed the martensitic plates and ferrites in T91 after polishing and etching. Lastly, TEM experiment was also carried out using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) prepared specimen to characterize precipitates, dislocations and other microscale features, and to compare with the previous X-rays Diffraction (XRD) results.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear, Plasma, Radiolgc Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Jinsheng

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stubbins, James F.
• Zhang, Yang

• T91 steel
• In-situ X-rays diffraction (XRD) tensile test

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Jinsheng Wang

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97793

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/97793