Microstructural Evolution of Inconel 690 Alloy for Steam Generator Tubes

Abstract

Inconel 690 alloy is a Ni-Cr-Fe austenite solid solution alloy with a wide range of applications such as steam generator tubes in nuclear power plant due to its good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In this study, the effects of heat treatment on the microstructural properties of Inconel 690 alloy were investigated. Inconel 690 alloy was annealed at solid solution temperature of 1150°C for 20 min, and cooled down to 800°C with different cooling rates, and then aged at 800°C for 100 min in vacuum, and then cooled down to room temperature by water quenching. The optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy results indicated that in case of the cooling rate of 0.5°C/min, discontinuous carbides along the grain boundaries were formed and when the cooling rate was 10°C/min, continuous carbides were formed. In both cases, many annealing twins were also formed. These results can help to improve the understanding of microstructural properties of Inconel 690 alloy.