The transformation behavior and microstructural evolution during continuous cooling within the heat affected zone between the weld beads of a 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V all-weld metal and the corresponding 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V base metal were investigated by means of dilatometer measurements, optical and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, macro-hardness measurements were conducted and the ferrite phase fraction was analyzed from optical microscopic images using an imaging processing program. Thereupon a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram for the 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V base metal and three welding CCT diagrams with different peak temperatures were constructed to realistically simulate the temperature profile of the different regions within the heat affected zones between the weld beads of the multi-layer weld metal. The microstructural constituents which were observed depending on the peak temperature and cooling parameters are low quantities of martensite, high quantities of bainite and in particular lower bainite, coalesced bainite and upper bainite as well as ferrite for the welding CCT diagrams. Regarding the base metal CCT diagram, all dilatometer specimens exhibited a fully bainitic microstructure consisting of lower bainite, coalesced bainite and upper bainite. Only the slowest cooling rate with a cooling parameter of 50 s caused a ferritic transformation. Nevertheless, it has to be emphasized that the distinction between martensite and bainite and the various kinds of bainite was only possible at higher magnification using scanning electron microscopy.

Heat-resistant V-modified 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V-weld metal is commonly used in petrochemical industry for heavy wall pressure vessels in high-temperature hydrogen service. In order to improve the reactor efficiency, the weldments have to endure even higher temperatures and pressures. Acicular ferrite (AF) is often regarded as the optimum microstructure due to its good combination of strength and toughness. As few literature about the evolution of microstructure and the final microstructure constituents of 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V weld metal is available, the current paper intends to provide comprehensive information by means of microscopy, crystallographic examination via electron backscatter diffraction and in situ observation of the austenite to ferrite phase transformation via high-temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy (HT-LSCM). The investigated weld metal exhibits a high density of complex aluminium-silicon-manganese oxides with a spherical shape and large prior austenite grains, which in combination is beneficial for intragranular nucleation of AF. Nonetheless, the examination of the transformed final microstructure was not sufficient to make an unambiguous statement about the presence of AF within the 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V weld metal. Via in-situ HT-LSCM of the phase transformation, intragranular nucleation of AF at non-metallic inclusions within the austenite grains was detected, which confirms that even though the microstructure of 2.25Cr-1Mo-0.25V weld metal is mainly bainitic, small amounts of AF are present.