An assessment of creep deformation and fracture behavior of 2.25Cr-1Mo similar and dissimilar weld joints

The evaluation of the creep deformation and fracture behavior of a 2.25Cr-1 Mo steel base metal, a 2.25Cr-1Mo/2.25Cr-1Mo similar weld joint, and a 2.25 Cr-1Mo/Alloy 800 dissimilar weld joint at 823 K over a stress range of 90 t o WO MPa has been carried out. The specimens for creep testing were taken f rom single-V weld pads fabricated by a shielded metal arc-welding process u sing 2.25Cr-1Mo steel (for similar-joint) and INCONEL 182 (for dissimilar-j oint) electrodes. The weld pads were subsequently given a postweld hear tre atment (PWHT) of 973 K for I hour. The microstructure and microhardness of the weld joints were evaluated in the as-welded, postweld heat-treated, and creep-tested conditions. The heat-affected zone (HAZ) of similar weld join t consisted of bainite in the coarse-prior-austenitic-grain (CPAG) region n ear the fusion line, followed by bainite in the fine-prior-austenitic-grain (FPAG) and intercritical regions merging with the unaffected base metal. I n addition to the HAZ structures in the 2.25Cr-1Mo steel, the dissimilar we ld joint displayed a definite INCONEL/2.25Cr-1Mo weld interface structure p resent either as a sharp line or as a diffuse region. A hardness trough was observed in the intercritical region of the HAZ in both weld joints, while a maxima in hardness was seen at the weld interface of the dissimilar weld joint. Both weld joints exhibited significantly lower rupture lives compar ed to the 2.25Cr-1Mo base metal. The dissimilar weld joint exhibited poor r upture life compared to the similar weld joint, at applied stresses lower t han 130 MPa. In both weld joints, the strain distribution across the specim en gage length during creep testing varied significantly. During creep test ing, localization of deformation occurred in the intercritical HAZ. In the similar weld joint, at all stress levels investigated, and in the dissimila r weld joint, at stresses greater than or equal to 150 MPa, the creep failu re occulted in the intercritical HAZ. The fracture occurred by transgranula r mode with a large number of dimples. At stresses below 150 MPa, the failu re in the dissimilar weld joint occurred in the CPAG HAZ near to the weld i nterface. The failure occurred by extensive intergranular creep cavity form ation.