Change of mechanical properties of FM steels after thermal aging

The effects of thermal aging on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties are important in the understanding of the in-service behavior of ferritic/martensitic steels in advanced nuclear power system. Ferritic/martensitic steels have been aged at 600 degrees C for times up to 20,000 hrs. The change of mechanical properties has been examined for these aged materials. The strength and hardness was hardly changed after the thermal aging at 600 degrees C for 20,000 hrs in all specimens. The impact absorbed energy decreased with the aging time. But the decrease of the impact absorbed energy was larger at the early stage of aging in tungsten added steels. This is attributed to the formation of Laves phase. Nitrogen which is known to increase the creep rupture strength had no effect on the degradation of the microstructure and mechanical properties during thermal aging.