Development of high-chromium ferritic heat-resistant steels with high nitrogen content

New ferritic heat-resistant steels with high nitrogen content were prototyped and their microstructures and mechanical properties at high temperature were evaluated. The addition of 0.3 mass% N into ferritic steels was achieved without the formation of blowholes by applying pressurized melting methods under an atmosphere of up to 4.0 MPa. The high-nitrogen ferritic heat-resistant steels contained several kinds of nitrides within the lath martensitic structure. V-rich coarse particles were identified as crystallized MN. Fine VN or Cr₂N particles were precipitated on the martensitic grain boundaries such as prior-austenite grain boundary, packet boundary, block boundary and lath boundary depending on the V content. The martensitic structure of the high-nitrogen steels contained a hierarchical microstructure including martensitic laths, blocks, packets, and prior-austenitic grains. These martensitic structures satisfied the Kurdjumov–Sachs relationship as with conventional carbon steel. The creep strengths of the prototyped steels were comparable with those of Gr. 91 steel, albeit lower than those of Gr. 92. Additional precipitates other than nitrides are required for further strengthening of the developed steels.