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Effect of heat treatment on the recovery of microstructure and mechanical properties of a service-exposed IN939 superalloy was studied. Four-stage heat treatment was performed on the service-exposed alloy. The microstructures of the service-exposed and rejuvenated alloys were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The hardness, tension, and stress-rupture tests were carried out to characterise the mechanical properties. The results showed that the heat treatment could rejuvenate the microstructure of the alloy that was deteriorated during the service at high temperatures. Decomposed MC carbides were transformed to new fine carbides, continuous M23C6 carbides were dissolved and new discontinuous carbides along the grain boundaries were regenerated and, finally, the fine γ׳ particles were reformed. The microstructural recovery resulted in an increase in the hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the alloy. The results also showed that the creep behavior of the alloy at a testing temperature of 850°C could be improved by the heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature creep tests of a novel Super304H steel under 650 °C/195 MPa were conducted and the evolutions of microstructure and property with creep time of the material were investigated by using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, micro Vickers hardness tester and electrochemical workstation. The results show that M23C6 carbides precipitated along grain boundaries of austenite matrix in a chain distribution and then got coarsened with the increase of creep time. Creep cavities started to form near the surface when the steel was crept for 2500 h. Afterward creep cavities increased, developed, interconnected and finally formed micro cracks along grain boundaries till fracture at the time of 4578 h. The hardness of the steel increased dramatically at the early stage of creeping and reached a high level at 500 h, and then kept a stable state at the succedent stage till fracture. Intergranular corrosion susceptibility of the steel increased first and then declined gradually, indicating the occurrence of sensitization -- desensitization process of the steel during creeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]