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A newly developed heat-resistant austenitic steel, Sanicro 25 is currently considered the leading candidate material for an advanced ultra-supercritical installation. The test material was subjected to long-term ageing (up to 30,000 h) at 700 and 750 °C, after which investigations into the microstructure, identification of precipitates, and testing of mechanical properties were conducted. Sanicro 25 had an austenitic microstructure with annealed twins and numerous large primary NbX and Z-phase precipitates in the as-received condition. It was found that the long-term ageing of the steel resulted in numerous precipitation processes. For example, M23C6 carbides, Laves, σ and G phases occurred at the grain boundaries. However, Z-phase precipitates, ε_Cu particles, and Laves phase were observed inside the grains. At the same time, compound complexes of precipitates based on the primary Z-phase precipitates were revealed in the microstructure. The ageing process increased the particle size of M23C6 carbides and the σ phase. After longer ageing times, a precipitate-free zone (PFZ) near the grain boundaries was observed. The precipitation processes initially lead to an increase in the strength properties of the steel. However, after 5000 h, an over-ageing effect was observed at 750 °C, which was not observed at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of investigations on HR6W alloy and Sanicro 25 steel and the dissimilar welded joint made of them. The characteristic images of microstructure of the investigated materials in the as-received condition and following the creep test, observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), are shown. The X-ray analysis of phase composition of the existing precipitates was carried out. The method for evaluation of creep strength based on abridged creep tests carried out at a temperature higher than the design one is presented. The obtained results do not deviate from the values of creep strength determined in longterm creep tests. The maximum difference in creep strength of the investigated materials is ±20%, which is in compliance with the acceptable scatter band. The methodology presented can be used for verification of creep strength (life time) of the material of finished components to be operated under creep conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]