Toughness of 2,25Cr-1Mo steel and weld

metal
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 1877, 090003 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4999898
Published Online: 11 September 2017

Mustafa Acarer, Gökhan Arici, Filiz Kumdali Acar, Selcuk Keskinkilic, and Fikret Kabakci

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AIP Conference Proceedings 1877, 090003 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4999898 1877, 090003

© 2017 Author(s).
 Toughness of 2,25Cr-1Mo Steel and Weld Metal

Mustafa Acarer1, a), Gökhan Arici 1,b), Filiz Kumdali Acar2, c) Selcuk Keskinkilic2, d),
Fikret Kabakci3, e)
1
Selçuk University, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Konya, TURKEY
3
Gedik Welding Company, Seyhli, Istanbul, TURKEY
3
Bulent Ecevit University, Alaplı Vocational School, Alapli, Zonguldak, TURKEY
a)
Corresponding author: macarer@selcuk.edu.tr
b)
arici@selcuk.edu.tr
c)
facar@gedik.com.tr
d)
skeskinkilic@gedik.com.tr
e)
fikretkabakci@yahoo.com

Abstract. 2,25Cr-1Mo steel is extensively used at elevated temperature structural applications in fossil fire power plants
for steam pipes, nozzle chambers and petrochemical industry for hydrocracking unit due to its excellent creep resistance
and good redundant to oxidation. Also they should have acceptable weldability and toughness. The steels are supplied in
quenched and tempered condition and their welded components are subjected to post-weld heat treatment (PWHT).
Tempering process is carried out at 690-710oC to improve toughness properties. However they are sensitive to reheat
cracking and temper embrittlement. To measure temper embrittlement of the steels and their weld metal, temper
embrittlement factor and formula (J factor - Watanabe and X formula- Bruscato) are used. Step cooling heat treatment is
also applied to determine temper embrittlement. In this study, toughness properties of Cr Mo (W) steels were reviewed.
Also transition temperature curves of 2,25Cr-1Mo steel and its weld metal were constructed before and after step cool
heat treatment as experimental study. While 2,25Cr-1Mo steel as base metal was supplied, all weld metal samples were
produced in Gedik Welding Company. Hardness measurements and microstructure evaluation were also carried out.

Keywords: 2.25Cr-1Mo steel, toughness, step cooling heat treatment

INTRODUCTION

CrMo steels are widely employed at elevated temperature structure applications such as the fossil fire power
plants and petrochemical industries for boilers, piping and chemical reaction vessels. Many structural components of
the steels in the power plants and oil refineries are often exposed to the long term loading at elevated temperatures.
Under the elevated temperature and high pressure, a decreasing on mechanical properties such as tensile and creep
strength and toughness is seen due to microstructural degradation [1-3].
CrMo steels are mainly categorized as low and high chromium steel. While low Chromium types are classified
as P11, P22, P22V, P23, P24 and P5, high chromium steels are ordered as P9, P91, P92, P911 and 12Cr-Mo-V steel.
Being a low chromium steel P22 includes 2.25 % Cr and 1% Mo (2.25Cr-1Mo). The superior properties of the steels
are associated with having alloying elements such as Cr and Mo (or W). They are also alloyed with niobium,
vanadium, boron, and nitrogen. The alloying elements form carbide and carbonitrides such as M23C6, M7C3, M2C,
and MX type (M stands for metallic elements such as Cr, Fe, and Mo and X stands for C and N). The most common
problem in the steels used in the power plants and petrochemical applications is the risk of the temper and hydrogen
embrittlement. Temper embrittlement occurs as a result of exposure of the steel at the temperature range of 340–565
°C. Temper embrittlement of 2,25Cr-1Mo steel is generally associated with intergranular failure arising from grain

4th International Conference on the Advancement of Materials and Nanotechnology (ICAMN IV 2016)
AIP Conf. Proc. 1877, 090003-1–090003-7; doi: 10.1063/1.4999898
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1557-7/$30.00

090003-1
boundary segregation of impurities like phosphorus, sulphur, arsenic, tin, and antimony. Being a major cause for
degradation of toughness of the ferritic steels, temper embrittlement leads to the ductile- to-brittle transition
temperature (DBTT) shift to higher temperatures. The embrittlement problem can be solved by reducing
phosphorus, sulfur, arsenic, tin, and antimony. Also Watanabe developed a formulate for an embrittlement factor
known as J-factor, which is used to determine chemical composition requirements for a temper embrittlement
resistant steel. In the J-factor, Mn and Si are recognized as embrittlement elements[11]. J-Factor is;

(1)

Bruscato12 developed a formulation to define temper embrittlement tendency of 2.25Cr-1Mo steel weld metal.

(2)

where P, Sb, Sn and As in ppm.

Step-cooling is also used to determine the relative susceptibility of a material to temper embrittlement. With the
step-cooling test, the difference of the toughness transition curve between the base metal with step cooled and
without step cooled condition is determined. Step-cooling heat treatment accelerates the time needed to segregate
the trace elements on the grain boundaries [13, 14].
In this work, microstructure and toughness properties of 2,25Cr-1Mo steel and weld metal were investigated.
The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) of the base and weld metals was also figured out. In order to
determine of temper embrittlement, 2,25Cr-1Mo steel and weld metal were exposed to step-cooling heat treatment.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

In this study, 2,25Cr-1Mo steel was used as base metal as received condition (tempered). 2,25Cr-1Mo all weld
metal was produced by shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) in Gedik Welding Company in Turkey. Table 1 shows
the chemical compositions of 2,25Cr-1Mo base and weld metals.

TABLE 1. Chemical compositions of 2.25Cr-1Mo base and weld metals

J X
Specimen C Si Mn P S Cr Mo Fe
Factor Factor
2.25Cr-1Mo
Steel Base 0,10 0,35 0,50 0,01 0,001 2,40 0,95 Bal.
Metal
2.25Cr-1Mo
0,098 0,1679 0,4514 0,014 0,001 2,209 0,934 Bal.
Weld Metal

2,25Cr-1Mo steel was characterized as received and step cooling condition. 2,25Cr-1Mo weld metal was
subjected to the post weld heat treatment at 690 oC for 1 hr and step cooling. To determine the temper
embrittlement, 2,25Cr-1Mo base and weld metal were subjected to step cooling heat treatment (SCHT) process. The
specimens were etched by using picral etchant for metallographic examinations and made for optical microscope
and SEM characterization. Microstructural examination of all samples was performed by using a Nikon MA 100
Eclipse optical microscope. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were carried out by using a Zeiss Evo LS
10 model electron microscope.

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 Charpy-V notch impact test were carried out to compare the ductile-brittle transition temperatures of the base
and weld metals before and after SCHT. In this way, shift of the 55 J transition temperature of the step-cooled base
and weld metals was tried to determine. Charpy-V notched impact tests were performed at -60, -50, -40, -30, -20, -
10, 0 and 30 oC. The test samples were prepared according to TS EN ISO 14556 standard from base and weld
metals. Zwick/Roell brand 450 Joule-capacity test device was used for Charpy impact tests. After the charpy impact
tests, fracture surface of the samples were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Figure 1 shows optical microscope images of 2,25Cr-1Mo steel base as receieved and step cooling heat treatment
condition and the weld metal after post weld heat treatment at 690 oC for 1 hr and step cooling heat treatment
process. The base and weld metals have bainite and ferritic microstructure. 2,25Cr-1Mo steels and their weld metals
have bainite and ferrite microstructure mostly. However, Andren et al.[15] and Berquist et al.[16] reported that the
microstructure of 2,25Cr-1Mo weld metal consists of bainitic ferrite and retained austenite and the retained austenite
transformed to ferrite and carbide precipitates during post weld heat treatment. Also, Lima et al.[17] stated 2,25Cr-
1Mo steel having a ferritic-pearlitic microstructure.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

FIGURE 1. Optical microscope photographs of 2,25Cr-1Mo base metal ( (a )as received and (b) step cooling condition) and
weld metal ( (c) after PWHT at 690 oC 1h and (d) step cooling heat treatment)

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 As stated literature [18], the precipitates have formed along the grain boundaries and inside of the grains. Pilling
and Ridley [19] investigated the carbide morphology in 2,25Cr-1Mo steel as tempered condition and reported that
the steels have M6C, M23C6, M7C3, Mo2C and M(C+N) precipitates. Also, according to Ahila at al.[20], Baker and
Nutting suggested the following sequence of carbides for 2,25Cr-1Mo steel on tempering.

Mo2C M23C6

Fe3C + + M6 C

M7C3 M7C3

In Fig. 2, Ductile-Brittle Transition Temperature (DBTT) curves of base and weld metals before and after step
cooling heat treatment were given. The weld metal showed 55 J impact energy at about the same temperature before
and after step cooling. In terms of the temper embrittlement of the weld metal, shift of 55 J transition temperatures
was not observed. Therefore, it can be said that the weld metal deposited with 2,25Cr-1Mo stick electrode produced
by Gedik Welding Company in Turkey, has not any sensitivity to temper embrittlement.

FIGURE 2. Ductile-Brittle Transition Temperature (DBTT) curves of base and weld metal before and after step cooling heat
treatment

Figure 3 and 4 show scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fracture surface of Charpy Impact test
specimens. The fracture surfaces of the base and weld metals have brittle fracture by cleavage planes and
intergranular fracture under the transition temperatures. All of the specimens show ductile fracture at room
temperature, which is above the transition temperature. The fracture surface features have many ductile dimples.

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 -
-60 oC +20 oC
40
Base metal as received

(a) (b) (c)

Weld metal + PWHT

(d) (e) (f)

PWHT+SCHT
Weld metal +

(g) (h) (i)

FIGURE 3. SEM images of the fracture surface of Charpy Impact test specimens at low magnification.

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 Base metal as received

(a) (b) (c)

Weld metal + PWHT

(d) (e) (f)

PWHT+SCHT
Weld metal +

(g) (h) (i)

FIGURE 4. SEM images of the fracture surface of Charpy Impact test specimens at high magnification.

SUMMARY

In this study, temper embrittlement tendency of 2,25Cr-1Mo weld metal was investigated through step cooling
heat treatment process with Charp-V impact test. The conclusions drawn from this study are given as follows:

1. Both of the base and weld metals have bainitic and ferritic microstructure before and after step cooling
process.
2. Toughness of the base metal is higher than weld metal before and after SCHT at all test temperatures.
3. While the transition temperature of the 2,25Cr-1Mo base metal with SCHT is -50oC, that of the weld metal
with and without SCHT is about -35 for 55J
4. The step cooling treatment did not induce a shift of the transition curves.

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