Effect of Neodymium Content on Creep Properties of 9Cr-3Co-3W-Nd-B Steel

The effects of the neodymium content on the creep properties and metallographic structure of 9Cr-3Co-3W-Nd-B steel were investigated. Neodymium had a mild effect on the creep rupture strength at contents up to 0.056 mass%. This suggested that the effects of neodymium compounds and solid-dissolved neodymium were minimal in the microstructures and uniformly creep-deformed parts after normalizing and tempering heat treatment. On the other hand, the reduction of area after creep rupture was improved by the addition of neodymium. Creep rupture occurred at the prior austenite grain boundaries on steel without neodymium. Therefore, neodymium conclusively adhered to the segregated sulfur at the prior austenite grain boundaries to suppress the formation of creep cracks.