Effects of High-Temperature Tempering on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of SA738 Gr.B Steel

Abstract

In this paper, JMatPro thermodynamic software, OM, SEM, TEM, and EPMA were used to study the microstructure and mechanical properties of SA738 Gr.B nuclear power steel after tempering at 630–710 °C. When tempered within the range of 630–670 °C, a huge amount of M3C and MC carbides were dispersed and precipitated in the ferrite matrix, and the strength and toughness matched well; when the tempering temperature rose above 670 °C, hard and brittle plate-martensites formed at the grain boundary, leading to the tensile strength of the experimental steel increased, while the low-temperature impact toughness significantly decreased and the yield strength also declined due to the disappearance of the finely dispersed second phase particles in the matrix.