Suppression of Cr nanoclusters and enrichments in Fe–Cr based alloys with cryogenic processing for future energy sector
This study investigates the effect of cryogenic processing (CP) on the microstructure and properties of a steel, Eurofer97, being considered for application in the energy sector - fusion. Relatively simple microstructural tailoring with CP provides a novel route to advanced steels for the energy sec...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425013328 |
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| Summary: | This study investigates the effect of cryogenic processing (CP) on the microstructure and properties of a steel, Eurofer97, being considered for application in the energy sector - fusion. Relatively simple microstructural tailoring with CP provides a novel route to advanced steels for the energy sector, utilizing existing alloys and chemistry. The resulting microstructural changes provide improved microhardness of the material and altered micro-residual stresses to a more compressive nature. The study shows that CP modifies the microstructural evolution immediately after application and during tempering. Magnetic characterisation was carried out using magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy, a versatile technique for imaging magnetic domains and evaluating the behaviour of magnetic materials. Temperature-dependent magneto-optical characterizations were carried out in ultra-high vacuum MOKE, ranging from cryogenic to elevated temperatures, to avoid thermal-induced reactions in ambient pressure. The combined investigation of magnetic properties and microstructural features elucidates the clear formation of carbides over intermetallic enrichment zones that stabilizes the microstructure. This pioneering work carried out provides important research for the application of CP for the development of next generation metallic materials for current and future energy sectors. |
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| ISSN: | 2238-7854 |