High temperature strength and ductility of the (C+N) strengthening Fe-Cr-Mn(W,V) steels

Fe-Cr-Mn(W, V) austenite steels used as low radioactive structural materials in fusion reactor have been investigated. The resultsshow that the high temperature strength and the creep fracture life of Fe-Cr-Mn(W, V) steels can be effectively improved through (C+N) complex-strengthening, so can be the high temperature ductility. The strength and ductility of the steels are superior to that of SUS316 steels and JPCAS below 673K. The relationship between strength, ductility andthe formation temperature is related to the evolution of deformation microstructure. The fracture and microstructure observation above 673Kindicates that the main way to further improve ductility at high temperature is the control of carbide coarsening at the grain boundaries.