Abstract
An improvement of power plant efficiency necessitates an increase of the process parameters and thus enables a reduction of consumed primary resources. Furthermore more efficient, sustainable, flexible and cost-effective energy technologies are strongly needed. For this reason the current research concentrates on a new concept of high-chromium fully ferritic stainless steels which are strengthened by a combination of solid-solution and intermetallic Laves phase particles. Such steels exhibit favourable creep, thermomechanical fatigue and steam oxidation behaviour up to 650°C. Based on detailed analysis by high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy the particle size evolution and compositions were studied. Variations in chemical compositions were analysed experimentally and compared with thermodynamic equilibrium composition modelling results.
This paper is part of a thematic issue on the 9th International Charles Parsons Turbine and Generator Conference. All papers have been revised and extended before publication in Materials Science and Technology.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of H. Reiners, B. Werner, D. Liebert, A. Moser, M. Braun and W. Lange for mechanical (long-term) testing and annealing. Furthermore the authors would like to thank D. Eßer, V. Gutzeit and J. Bartsch for sample and metallographic preparation. The support of VDM Metals GmbH with experimental materials is greatly acknowledged.
This paper was originally presented at Parsons 2015: The 9th International Charles Parsons Turbine and Generator Conference held on 15-17 September 2015 in London, UK and organised by the High Temperature Materials Committee and Surface Engineering Division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. The paper has been extended, peer-reviewed and revised before publication in Materials, Science and Technology.