Structure and Crystallographic Texture Changes of Ferritic Martensitic Steel Resulting from Thermal Creep and Ageing Tests

Thermal ageing (650 and 700∘C during 1000, 7000 or 13300 h) and creep (700∘C, 50 MPa) tests of tubes made from ferritic-martensitic steels EK181 and ChS139 were carried out. With the aid of X-ray techniques the investigation of crystallographic texture and structure condition after tests was conducted. Thermal ageing provides substructure enhancement. With the increase of ageing time one can note the decrease of microhardness and X-ray peaks broadening, which indicates inner elastic microstress relaxation. It was revealed that changes of crystallographic texture in the rupture area of steel ChS139 tube after creep test is similar to those after uniaxial tensile test at room temeprature. This indicates the similarity of the mechanisms ofgrain reorientation for creep and tension. Recrystallization occurs in steel EK181 during creep test at temperature 700∘C leading to formation of recrystallization texture. This results in faster failure of steel EK181 (2486 h before rupture) in comparison with steel ChS139 (3426 h)