No abstract

Formations of Cu-rich precipitate in 18%Cr-1.5%Cu stainless steels without and with 0.5%Nb have been examined mainly using transmission electron microscopy. The specimens solution-treated at 1250°C were isothermally transformed at various temperatures between 500 and 850°C. Fine spherical Cu-rich solute zones were nucleated in the steels in the beginning of aging. These Cu-rich zones exhibited bcc structure and then transformed into 9R structure with twins during aging. The spherical 9R-Cu particles changed into rod-shaped fcc-Cu particles after prolonged aging. Laves phase of Fe2Nb type started to form in the Nb-added steel almost after finishing nucleation and growth of Cu particles. Addition of Nb in the steel delayed the nucleation of the Cu-rich zones due to slow diffusion of Nb atoms in ferrite.

The growth and coarsening of Cu-particles in 18%Cr-1.5%Cu ferritic stainless steels as a function of Nb content was investigated quantitatively. The samples were solution-treated at 1 250°C and then isothermally aged at 700°C for up to 86 400 s. Fine, spherical Cu-particles nucleated and grew during aging. The radius of the Cu particles increased in proportion to the one-third power of the aging time in all the stainless steels. The radius of the Cu particles in the Nb-added stainless steels was always smaller than that in the Nb-free stainless steel. The normalized standard deviation of the size distribution of the Cu particles increased and reached saturation at a certain value during aging. The increase in the standard deviation during aging was delayed by the addition of Nb. The volume fraction of Cu particles increased and reached saturation at a certain value during aging. The addition of niobium delayed the saturation of the volume fraction of the Cu particles. The slow growth of Cu particles in Nb-added stainless steels is thought to be owing to the slow diffusion of Nb atoms from the Cu particles.