A Characteristic of microstructural evolution, microhardness and tensile properties in CrMoV rotor steel weldment experienced by the cyclic thermal aging heat treatment

CrMoV강 용접부의 주기적 열시효처리에 따른 미세조직, 미세경도 및 인장강도 특성

An investigation of the CrMoV rotor steel weldment which experienced by cyclic thermal aging heat treatment and as-received condition was performed. This evaluation was carried out to confirm whether this type of weldment is appropriate for the service environment in terms of microstructural examinations, microhardness measurements and tensile tests. The cyclic thermal aging heat treatment, containing continuous heating and cooling thermal cycle was programmed to simulate the real rotor service condition. The heat treatment was performed for 40 cycles(5920hrs). The results indicated that the weldment was composed of 4 different regions such as heat affected zone of the base metal, butter weld(initial weld), full thickness weld(final weld) and the base metal. The double welding process was applied to eliminate the susceptibility of reheat cracking at heat affected zone of base metal. The grain refinement at the HAZ due to the welding process could reduce the possibility of cracking susceptibility, but its tensile properties was appeared to be low due to the weld metal in as-received condition. The benefit effect, grain refinement was extended with carbides coarsening during the cyclic thermal aging heat treatment. However the poor mechanical properties of the weldment was more degraded as undergoing the heat treatment.