Quantitative physical modeling of the effect of precipitates in the subgrain interior on the creep curve and service life of P91.

This work deals with a physically based creep model of the martensitic 9% Cr-steel P91. In particular, we quantitatively study the effect of precipitates located in the subgrain interior on the creep curve and the lifetime of the material. Our creep model is capable of simulating the microstructural evolution parallel to creep curves and has been further developed towards predicting time-to-rupture (TTR) diagrams. We demonstrate how the number density, size and shape of the precipitates in the subgrain interior affect the creep curve and thus the lifetime of the material. Three according parameter studies on the material P91 compare microstructures with/without precipitates and/or assuming specific shapes by introducing aspect ratios. These simulations can be used as a basis for further development of materials with regard to the precipitation phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]