Creep behaviour and microstructural evolution in AISI 316LN + Nb steels at 650 °C

The paper deals with the effect of niobium in the wrought AISI 316LN steels on the long-term creep characteristics at 650 °C. Casts B and C contained 0.1 and 0.3 wt.%Nb, respectively. As a reference material the niobium free Cast A was used. Small additions of niobium to the AISI 316LN steel resulted in a significant reduction of the minimum creep rate and shortening of the tertiary creep stage. At time to rupture exceeding 104 h the creep rupture strength of the niobium-bearing Casts B and C was slightly inferior to the Cast A. Two nitrides formed in the Casts B and C: Z-phase and M6X. The minimum creep rate in niobium-bearing casts was favourably affected by precipitation of the Z-phase. The dimensional stability of Z-phase particles was very high, but niobium additions also accelerated the formation and coarsening of η-Laves and σ-phase. Coarse σ-phase particles at grain boundaries contributed significantly to the shortening of the tertiary creep stage.