Effect of Sigma Phases on Moderate-Temperature Tensile Properties of Z3CN20.09M CASS Used for Primary Coolant Pipe of Nuclear Power Plant

The effect of sigma phases on the moderate-temperature tensile properties of Z3CN20.09M casting austenite stainless steel was investigated by means of isothermal treatment, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, instrumented nanoindentation, tensile testing, and finite element simulation. The results show that the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of aged specimens tensile tested at moderate temperature increase remarkably with an increasing sigma phase, while the elongation at break decreased. The strain-hardening rate of aged specimens with sigma phases is higher than that of unaged specimens without sigma phases at a certain low-strain range. However, the value of the strain-hardening rate of aged specimens is lower than that of unaged specimens when the strain exceeds a certain value. The effect of the sigma phase on the tensile properties at moderate temperature is also more significant. This can be attributed to the many high-energy σ/γ2 and α/σ/γ2 incoherent phase boundaries caused by the precipitation of sigma phases. On the one hand, these boundaries hinder the movement of dislocations and subsequently accumulate dislocations to some extent, so strength is enhanced and the strain-hardening rate is improved. On the other hand, microcracks at these interfaces initiate and propagate more easily when the strain exceeds a certain value. Thus, the elongation value and the strain-hardening rate decrease.