Effect of Post-Weld Heat Treatment Temperature on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Weld Heat-Affected Zone of Low-Alloy Steel for Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel

Abstract

The effect of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) temperature on the mechanical properties of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of P-No. 3 low-alloy steel was investigated by taking into account the changes in microstructure. SA-508 Gr. 3 Cl. 1 forged steel was employed, and the specimens taken from the steel were thermally cycled using a Gleeble simulator to simulate coarse-grained HAZ (CGHAZ), fine-grained HAZ (FGHAZ), intercritical HAZ (ICHAZ), and subcritical HAZ (SCHAZ). The respective base metal and simulated HAZ specimens were heat treated in a furnace at 610, 650, 690, and 730℃ for 8 hours. Before the heat treatment, the ICHAZ, FGHAZ and CGHAZ exhibited high hardness and poor impact toughness. However, when the PWHT was applied, the hardness decreased and the impact toughness improved; the impact toughness was highly dependent on the PWHT temperature. The impact toughness of the ICHAZ and FGHAZ increased significantly when the PWHT temperature was 650℃ or below, while that of CGHAZ improved significantly when the PWHT temperature was 650℃ or higher. The microstructural changes due to the PWHT were observed by scanning electron microscopy and correlated with the mechanical properties.r composed of iron-based composition system had similar characteristics to the material to be repaired.