Stable Phases in Aged Type 321 Stainless Steel

X-ray diffraction and Analytical Electron Microscopy have been used to characterize the precipitate phases present in type 321 stainless steel after 17 years of service at approximately 600/sup 0/C. The morphology, crystallography, and orientation relationships with the matrix of the precipitates have been determined along with the chemical composition of several of the phases. Long-term aging of type 321 stainless steel indicates TiC, not M/sub 23/C/sub 6/, is the stable carbide phase. A theory is developed to explain appearance of M/sub 23/C/sub 6/ at intermediate times. The theory also indicates the means for preventing M/sub 23/C/sub 6/ formation and hence sensitization of the steel to intergranular corrosion. The amount of sigma found correlates well with results from shorter time studies. Ti/sub 4/C/sub 2/S/sub 2/ and a complex phosphide-arsenide were also present

SOLGAS refined: A computerized thermodynamic equilibrium calculation tool

SOLGAS, an early computer program for calculating equilibrium in a chemical system, has been made more user-friendly, and several{open_quote} bells and whistles{close_quotes} have been added. The necessity to include elemental species has been eliminated. The input of large numbers of starting conditions has been automated. A revised format for entering data simplifies and reduces chances for error. Calculated errors by SOLGAS are flagged, and several programming errors are corrected. Auxiliary programs are available to assemble and partially automate plotting of large amounts of data. Thermodynamic input data can be changed {open_quotes}on line.{close_quote} The program can be operated with or without a co-processor. Copies of the program, suitable for the IBM-PC or compatible with at least 384 bytes of low RAM, are available from the authors