High-Temperature Creep and Microstructure Evolution of Alloy 800H Weldments with Inconel 625 and Haynes 230 Filler Materials

Abstract

Alloy 800H stands as one of the few code-qualified materials for fabricating in-core and out-of-core components operating in high-temperature reactors. Welding is a common practice for assembling these components; however, the selection of a suitable filler material is essential for enhancing the high-temperature creep resistance of Alloy 800H weldments in high-temperature applications. In this study, Inconel 625 and Haynes 230 filler materials were used to weld Alloy 800H plates by employing the gas tungsten arc welding technique. The high-temperature tensile and creep rupture properties, microstructural stability, and evolution of the weldments after high-temperature exposure were investigated and compared with those of Alloy 800H. The results show that both weldments exhibit enhanced tensile and creep behavior at 760 °C. The creep rupture times of the weldments with Inconel 625 filler and Haynes 230 filler materials were about two and three time longer, respectively, than those of Alloy 800H base metal when tested at 80 MPa and 760 °C. Carbides (MC and M23C6) were commonly observed in the microstructures of both the weld and base metals in the two weldments after high-temperature creep tests. However, the Inconel 625 filler weldment displayed detrimental δ and Laves phases in the fusion zone, and these precipitates could be potential sites for initiating cracks following prolonged high-temperature exposure. This study shows that the weldment with Haynes 230 filler material exhibit better phase stability and creep rupture properties than the one with Inconel 625, suggesting its potential for use as a candidate filler material for Alloy 800H for further investigation. This finding also emphasizes the critical consideration of microstructural evolutions and phase stability in evaluating high-temperature materials and their weldments in high-temperature reactor applications.