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Study on the welding continuous cooling transformation and weldability of SA508Gr4 steel for nuclear pressure vessels

  • Qingwei Bai , Yonglin Ma , Xiaolan Kang , Shuqing Xing and Zhongyi Chen
Published/Copyright: January 31, 2017
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International Journal of Materials Research
From the journal International Journal of Materials Research Volume 108 Issue 2

Abstract

SA508Gr4 is a newly developed high-strength steel for nuclear reactor pressure vessels. Its welding characteristics remain largely unexplored. In this work, the simulated heat affected zone continuous cooling transformation (SH-CCT) diagram of SA508Gr4 steel was constructed and the high-temperature cooling phase compositions and the properties of the heat affected zone (HAZ) were characterized using dilatometry and microscopic tests. The results show that the phase transformation in the HAZ was divided into bainite and martensite transformation stages. When 4.6 ≤ t8/5 (the HAZ cooling time from 800 °C to 500 °C) ≤ 15 s, lath-shaped martensite was fully developed, resulting in extensive hardening and cold cracking in the HAZ, while the cooling time required to form the bainite completely exceeds 1 200 s. Thus, to improve weld quality, preheating to 196 °C or higher is recommended.

Keywords: SA508Gr4 steel; Microstructures; Simulated HAZ continuous cooling transformation diagram; Weldability
*Correspondence address, Prof. Yonglin Ma, School of Material and Metallurgy, Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, No. 7 Arding Street, Baotou, ZIP: 014010, P. R. China, Tel.: +8615947629690, E-mail:

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Received: 2016-10-12
Accepted: 2016-12-01
Published Online: 2017-01-31
Published in Print: 2017-02-10

© 2017, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

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https://doi.org/10.3139/146.111462
Keywords for this article
SA508Gr4 steel; Microstructures; Simulated HAZ continuous cooling transformation diagram; Weldability

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. A new editor for IJMR
  5. Original Contributions
  6. Structural anisotropy in equal-channel angular extruded nickel revealed by dilatometric study of excess volume
  7. Low-temperature transformation to bainite in a medium-carbon steel
  8. Study on the welding continuous cooling transformation and weldability of SA508Gr4 steel for nuclear pressure vessels
  9. Phase precipitation in transition metal-containing 354-type alloys
  10. Effect of laser alloying on heat-treated light alloys
  11. In-situ synthesis, microstructure and properties of Ti2AlN/TiB2 composite
  12. Characterization of mechanical properties of Al/TiCP MMC
  13. Performance evaluation of polysulfone/graphene nanocomposites
  14. Short Communications
  15. Influence of Cu and Mg addition on age-related deterioration in strength and creep behavior of Zn-12Al die casting alloys
  16. Effects of mixing speed of a composite on its friction coefficient and wear resistance
  17. DGM News
  18. DGM News
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