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Title: High-purity steels for utility components: Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5980016

Four structural steels commonly used for utility components like rotor forgings and pressure vessels have been evaluated in high-purity form with levels of manganese and silicon ranging from zero to conventional levels. When manganese is absent from the high-purity steels, it is found to be desirable to compensate for decreased hardenability by increasing the remaining alloy content. The main benefits of improved purity and low Mn and Si content have been found to be increased fracture toughness, reduced fracture appearance transition temperature (FATT), and improved resistance to temper embrittlement. Some improvement in creep rupture ductility was found to be associated with low Si and Mn contents. Reduced volume fraction of inclusions, mainly sulfides and silicates associated with manganese and silicon, are responsible for the observed improved toughness and ductility characteristics. Transformation (CCT curves), cleanliness, tensile, FATT, creep rupture, and fatigue characteristics were observed on the steels studied. 68 refs., 173 figs., 82 tabs.

Research Organization:
Japan Steel Works Ltd., Muroran, Hokkaido; Bethlehem Steel Corp., PA (USA); Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5980016
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-5399; ON: TI88920035
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English