ECCC Creep Conference, 1214 September 2005, London.

etd@etd1.co.uk

Metallographic Atlas for 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and

Degradation due to Long-term Service at the Elevated
Temperatures
Hideaki Kushima, Takashi Watanabe, Masaharu Murata, Kazushige Kamihira, Hideo Tanaka
and Kazuhiro Kimura, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Abstract
In a series of Metallographic Atlas of Long-term Crept Materials as a part of NIMS Creep Data Sheet, new
volume of No.M-4 on 2.25Cr-1Mo steels have been published in March 2005. Microstructural evolution
during long-term creep up to about 100,000h has been described on three type steels with ferrite/pearlite,
bainite and tempered martensite microstructures in the as heat treated condition. Higher short-term creep
strength of the steel with tempered martensite microstructure than those of the other steels decreased with
increase in creep exposure, and no difference was observed in the long-term as a result of microstructural
change.
Keywords: creep; 2.25Cr-1Mo steel; metallographic atlas; long-term creep strength; initial microstructure;
microstructural change.

1. Introduction
The 2.25Cr-1Mo steel has been widely used for high temperature structural components serviced at
temperatures of 400 to 600oC. Long-term service at the elevated temperature causes deterioration of
mechanical property of materials as a result of changes in microstructure. The loss of strength should be
evaluated accurately in order to assure security and reliability for long-term serviced high temperature plants.
Mechanical property is strongly influenced by microstructure and consequently microstructural changes
during aging and creep exposure has been reported on 2.25Cr-1Mo steels in association with strength [1-5].
Mechanical property and microstructure of the long-term serviced materials taken from pressure vessels has
been also investigated [6,7]. Database on microstructural evolution during long-term exposure at the elevated
temperatures should be useful information for risk management of high temperature plant.
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) has been conducting Creep Data Sheet Project since 1966,
and a large amount of creep data and crept test pieces have been accumulated. Recently, NIMS has started to
publish Metallographic Atlas of Long-term Crept Materials which contains a number of micrographs on
crept materials. The first volume of it published in 1999 was on a 18Cr-8Ni steel (JIS SUS304H TB) [8].
Those of a 18Cr-12Ni-Mo steel (JIS SUS 316H TB) [9] and a 18Cr-10Ni-Ti steel (JIS SUS321H TB) [10]
were published in 2003 and 2004, respectively. In a series of NIMS Metallographic Atlas, new volume of
No.M-4 on three type 2.25Cr-1Mo steels [11-13] with different initial microstructure has been published in
March 2005. The Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels contains a number of optical micrographs
showing the changes in microstructure during long-term creep exposure beyond 100,000h at the
temperatures of 450 to 650oC, in addition to creep rupture data and hardness. In this paper, the outline of
Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels is described and influence of initial microstructure and
microstructural change during creep exposure on creep rupture strength and rupture ductility have been
mentioned.

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Table 1. Chemical compositions (mass%) and heat treatment conditions of three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels
C

Si

Mn

Ni

Cr

Mo

Cu

Al

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

0.10

0.23

0.43

0.011

0.009

0.043

2.46

0.94

0.07

0.005

0.008

NT (JIS SCMV 4NT)

0.12

0.29

0.48

0.015

0.007

0.05

2.20

0.99

0.07

0.017

0.0095

QT (ASTM A542)

0.14

0.25

0.55

0.010

0.009

0.18

2.44

1.03

0.13

0.010

0.0102

Ann.

930C /20min

(JIS STBA 24)

720C /130min Air cooling

930C /1h Air cooling

NT

740C /2h Air cooling

(JIS SCMV 4NT)

700C /4h Furnace cooling

930C /6h Water quenching

QT

635C /6h Air cooling

(ASTM A542)

600C /2h Air cooling

20m

a) Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

b) NT (JIS SCV 4NT)

c) QT (ASTM A542)

Fig. 1. Optical micrographs of the as heat treated steels

2. Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels

2.1 Materials
The 2.25Cr-1Mo steels with different initial microstructure of ferrite/pearlite, bainite and tempered
martensite were used for the Metallogaphic Atlas No. M-4. Creep rupture data of those steels has been
reported in the Creep Data Sheets No.3B [11], No.11B [12] and No.36B[13], respectively. A typical heat
with standard creep strength has been selected from multi heats of each material. The chemical compositions
and heat treatment conditions of the selected 2.25Cr-1Mo steels are shown in Table 1. Chemical composition
of the three steels was essentially the same, however, heat treatment condition was different each other.
Optical micrographs of the annealed 2.25Cr-1Mo steel tube (JIS STBA24), normalized and tempered (NT)
steel plate (JIS SCMV4 NT), and quenched and tempered (QT) steel plate (ASTM A542) are shown in
Figure 1. Microstructure of the steels in the as heat treated condition was ferrite/pearlite (Fig.1a), bainite
(Fig.1b) and tempered martensite (Fig.1c) for annealed steel tube, normalized and tempered steel plate,
quenched and tempered steel plate, respectively.
2.2 Contents of Metallographic Atlas
The Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels contains relating creep rupture data, profile of creep ruptured
specimens, optical and transmission electron micrographs and hardness. Creep ruptured pecimens tested over
the range of temperatures from 450 to 650oC were examined for each steels.

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Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and Degradation due to Creep

500

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

300
450oC

Stress / MPa

200

500oC
100
80
60

450oC
475oC

550oC

500 C
525oC

40

550oC

600oC

600oC

n = 59

650oC

20
1
10

10

10

650oC
3

10

10

10

Time to rupture / h
Fig.2. Stress versus time to rupture curves of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steel tube (JIS STBA 24) tested over a range of
temperatures from 450 to 650 oC

Optical micrographs of near fractured surface, gauge portion and head portion of the creep ruptured
specimen are displayed with a magnification of 100, 400 and 1,000. In addition to exhibit of those for every
crept specimen, micrographs are summarized as a view format for different temperature and creep exposure
time. Transmission electron micrographs of the creep ruptured specimens crept at 550oC are indicated.
Vickers hardness of the steels in the as heat treated condition, gauge and head portion of the creep ruptured
specimens is also shown.
Stress versus time to rupture curves of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steel tube (JIS STBA 24) tested over a range of
temperatures from 450 to 650oC are shown in Figure 2. Creep rupture data of the crept specimens subjected
to microstructural examination for the Metallographic Atlas was indicated by solid symbol in Fig.2. The
crept specimens tested over a range of rupture life from 100 to exceed 100,000h have been used. Creep
testing condition of the NT and QT steels is essentially the same as that of annealed one. Number of the
specimens examined was 28 pieces for annealed steel, 27 pieces for NT and QT steels, respectively.
Profiles of creep ruptured specimen crept at 500, 550 and 650oC of QT steel are shown in Figure 3. High
ductility with necking is observed on the specimen creep ruptured at 500oC and short-term (Fig.3 (a)).
However, a profile of the specimen creep ruptured at 500oC and long-term (Fig.3 (b)) indicates a low
ductility. Similar feature of low ductility was observed on the specimens creep ruptured at 550oC (Figs.3 (c)
and (d)). Creep rupture ductility tends to decrease with increase in creep exposure. On the other hand, high
ductility is observed on creep ruptured specimen crept at 650oC (Fig3 (e)). It has been observed that creep
rupture ductility decreases with increase in creep exposure, however, it recover after a sufficient extent of
creep exposure. In this way, rupture ductility is understood from the profile of creep ruptured specimen, as
well as an extent of oxidation.

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H.Kushima, T.Watanabe, M.Murata, K.Kamihira, H.Tanaka and K.Kimura

a) 500C, 300MPa, tR=552.2 h

b) 500C, 157MPa, tR=124,452.1 h

c) 550C, 216MPa, tR=956.5 h

d) 550C, 78MPa, tR=66,055.2 h

e) 650C, 53MPa, tR=978.5 h

10mm

Figure 3. Profiles of creep ruptured specimen crept at 500, 550 and 650C of QT steel (ASTM A542).

Optical micrographs of the specimen gauge portion of annealed 2.25Cr-1Mo steel (JIS STBA24) crept for
about 300 to 100,000h at temperatures of 450 to 650oC are shown in Figure 4. A lamellar morphology of
pearlite is observed on the specimens creep ruptured at 450oC through short-term to long-term, however, it
has collapsed after long-term creep exposure beyond 10,000h at 500oC. With increase in temperature,
collapse of lamellar morphology of pearlite takes place at the shorter creep exposure time. Influences of time
and temperature on evolution of microstructure during creep exposure are systematically demonstrated.
Similar view format is displayed on not only specimen gauge portion, but also specimen head portion and
near fracture surface for each 2.25Cr-1Mo steels. Moreover, optical micrographs of the same condition of the
three steels are also summarized in a similar way for comparison.
3. Creep rupture properties and microstructural change
3.1 Creep rupture strength
Stress versus time to rupture curves at 450, 550 and 650oC of the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels are shown in
Figure 5. At the lower temperature of 450oC, creep rupture strength of the QT steel is higher than the other
steels and it shows about ten times longer creep rupture life than the others. Short-term creep rupture strength
at 550oC of the QT steel was also higher than the other steels, however, difference in creep rupture strength
decreased with decrease in applied stress and disappeared at the stresses below 100MPa. No difference in
creep rupture strength was observed at 650oC for the three steels.

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Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and Degradation due to Creep

Fig.4. Optical micrographs of the specimen gauge portion of annealed 2.25Cr-1Mo steel (JIS STBA 24)
crept for about 300 to 100,000h at temperatures of 450 to 650 oC.

500
o

450 C

Stress / MPa

300
200

100
80
60
40
20 1
10

550 C

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

NT (JIS SCMV 4NT)
QT (ASTM A542)

10

10

650 oC

10

10

10

Time to rupture / h
Fig.5. Stress versus time to rupture curves at 450, 550 and 650oC of the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels.

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H.Kushima, T.Watanabe, M.Murata, K.Kamihira, H.Tanaka and K.Kimura

500

2.25Cr-1Mo steels
Stress / MPa

300
200
100
80
60
40

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

NT (JIS SCMV 4NT)
QT (ASTM A542)

20
14000

16000

18000

20000

Larson-Miller Parameter (T

(K)

22000

24000

(20 + log t

R(h)

))

Fig.6. Creep data of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steels at temperatures of 450 to 650oC plotted against a Larson-Miller
parameter.

Creep data of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steels at temperatures of 450 to 650oC are plotted against a Larson- Miller
parameter (LMP, C=20) and shown in Figure 6. In the small parameter region corresponding to lower
temperature and short-term, creep rupture strength of the QT steel with tempered martensite microstructure is
higher than the other st eel s with ferrite/pearlite and bainite micr ostructures.
However, the curve of QT steel is steeper than the other steels in the range of LMP of 19,000 to 20,000, and
a magnitude of difference in creep rupture strength of the steels decreases. In the large LMP range exceed
20,000, difference in creep rupture strength disappeared and those of the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels are almost
the same.
Vickers hardness of gauge portion of the creep ruptured 2.25Cr-1Mo steels is plotted against a LMP and
shown in Figure 7. In the as heat treated condition, hardness of the QT steel is HV239 and that is much
greater than those of the NT steel (HV179) and annealed steel (HV152). Specimens of NT and annealed
steels creep ruptured in the short-term indicate larger hardness than that in the as heat treated condition,
however, it decreases monotonously with increase in LMP. On the other hand, QT steel holds higher
hardness than the other steels in the short-term up to about 19,000 of LMP. A large hardness value of the QT
steel, however, rapidly drop in the range of LMP of 19,000 to 20,000, as well as decrease in creep rupture
strength of the QT steel as shown in Fig.6. In the long-term where a LMP exceeds 20,000, hardness of the
three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels are almost the same. It has been supposed that change in creep rupture strength with
increase in LMP is caused by microstructural change during long-term creep exposure.
3.2 Creep rupture ductility
Changes in reduction of area with increase in creep exposure time at 500, 550, 600 and 650oC of the three
2.25Cr-1Mo steels are shown in Figure 8. The NT and annealed steels possess high ductility independent of
temperature and creep exposure time. On the other hand, rupture ductility of the QT steel is strongly

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Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and Degradation due to Creep

influenced by creep exposure condition. In the short-term at 500oC, the QT steel holds high ductility as well
as the other steels, however, it rapidly drop in excess of 1,000h. A similar drop in rupture ductility is
observed also at 550oC, however, it tends to recover in the long-term over about 10,000h. Recovery of
rupture ductility with increase in creep exposure time is observed at 600oC, and high ductility is observed at
650oC independent of creep exposure time.

Vickers hardness (HV10)

260

Gauge portion

240
220
200
180
160
140
120

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

NT (JIS SCMV 4NT)
QT (ASTM A542)

100
As
received

16000

18000

20000

Larson-Miller Parameter (T

(K)

22000

(20 + log t

R(h)

24000

))

Fig.7. Vickers hardness of gauge portion of the creep ruptured 2.25Cr-1Mo steels plotted against a
Larson-Miller parameter.

Reduction of area / %

100
80
60
40
20

550 oC

500 oC

0
100

80
60

650oC

600 oC

40

Ann. (JIS STBA 24)

NT (JIS SCMV 4NT)

20
0 1
10

QT (ASTM A542)

102

103

104

105

106 10

102

103

Time to rupture / h

104

105

106

Fig.8. Changes in reduction of area with increase in creep exposure time at 500, 550, 600 and 650oC of the
three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels.

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H.Kushima, T.Watanabe, M.Murata, K.Kamihira, H.Tanaka and K.Kimura

3 000 h level

30 000 h level 100 000 h level

250.9 h (78MPa)

3 159.6 h (37MPa)

271.6 h (160MPa)

3 842.2 h (78MPa)

472.5 h (250MPa)

2 482.8 h (177MPa) 24 516.4 h (108MPa)

438.1 h (333MPa)

2 426.4 h (294MPa) 27 318.0 h (216MPa) 124 452.1 h (157MPa)

Stress

650C

300 h level

500C 550C

600C

550m
m

34 527.5 h (41MPa)

66 055.2 h (78MPa)

Fig.9. Optical micrographs of the near fractured surface of the QT steel (ASTM A542).

Optical micrographs of the near fractured surface of the QT steel are shown in Figure 9. A transgranular
fracture is observed on the specimens creep ruptured after 438.1h at 500oC, however, fracture mode shifts
from transgranular to intergranular with increase creep exposure time. An intergranular fracture is observed
on the specimens creep ruptured at 550 and 600oC in conjunction with intergranular cracking. On the other
hand, a transgranular fracture is observed on the specimens creep ruptured at 650oC, and change in rupture
ductility is clearly recognized from these micrographs.
The reduction of area of the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels shown in Fig.8 is plotted against a LMP (C=20) and
shown in Figure 10. The NT and annealed steels hold good rupture ductility which is higher than 70% of
reduction of area throughout the tested condition. Although a rupture ductility of the QT steel is high in the
short-term region where a LMP is smaller than 18,000, it rapidly decreases from about 70% to less than 10%
with increase in creep exposure time and recovers in the long-term after showing significantly low ductility
in the range of a LMP of 18,000 to 20,000. A poor ductility of the QT steel in the intermediate-term is
correspondent to significant drop in hardness and creep rupture strength.
3.3 Microstructural change
Bright field TEM images of the QT steel (a) in the as heat treated condition and specimens creep ruptured at
550oC after (b) 99.8h at 265MPa, (c) 8,203.0h at 137MPa and (d) 46,816.8h at 88MPa are shown in Figure
11. Tempered martensitic microstructure with fine lath and high dislocation density was observed in the as
tempered condition (Fig.11(a)). Homogeneously recovered microstructure consists of increased lath width
and decreased dislocation density has been observed in the specimen creep ruptured after 99.8h (Fig.11(b)).
On the other hand, inhomogeneous progress in recovery was found in the specimen creep ruptured after
8,203.0h (Fig.11(c)). In the specimen creep ruptured after 46,816.8h (Fig.11(d)), martensitic lath structure

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Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and Degradation due to Creep

has completely disappeared and dislocation density has significantly decreased.

Reduction of area / %

100
80
60
40
20

Ann.(JIS STBA 24)

NT(JIS SCMV 4NT)
QT(ASTM A542)

0
14000

16000

18000

20000

Larson-Miller Parameter (T

(K)

22000

24000

(20 + log t

R(h)

))

Fig.10. Reduction of area of the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels shown in Fig.8 plotted against a Larson-Miller
parameter.

a) as heat treated
b) tR=99.8h, El=22%, RA=68%
c) tR=8,203.0h, El=3%, RA=4%
d) tR=46,816.8h, El=14%, RA=37%
Fig.11. Bright field TEM images of the QT steel (ASTM A542) (a) in the as heat treated condition and
specimen creep ruptured at 550 oC after (b) 99.8h at 265MPa, (c) 8,203.0h at 137MPa and (d)
46,816.8h at 88MPa.

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H.Kushima, T.Watanabe, M.Murata, K.Kamihira, H.Tanaka and K.Kimura

Fig.12. Bright field TEM images of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steels in the as heat treated and creep ruptured at 550oC.

Bright field TEM images of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steels in the as heat treated and creep ruptured at 550oC are
shown in Figure 12. A dislocation density of the annealed steel is significantly low even in the as heat treated
condition and changes in microstructure during creep exposure is small. Although high dislocation density is
observed for the NT steel in the as heat treated condition, it has rapidly decreased during short-term creep
exposure. On the other hand, decrease in dislocation density in the QT steel during creep exposure is slower
than that in the NT steel. Inhomogeneous progress in recovery of tempered martensite microstructure is
observed with expanding of low dislocation density area from the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundary
towards grain interior. After long-term creep exposure of several tens of thousands hours at 550oC, tempered
martensite microstructure has been completely recovered and no significant difference in microstructures is
observed for the three 2.25Cr-1Mo steels regardless of different initial microstructure. Rapid decreases in
hardness and creep rupture strength of the QT steel correspond to expansion of recovered area. Fine
martensite microstructure and high dislocation density of the QT steel is maintained for longer duration than
the NT steel, and higher hardness and creep rupture strength of the QT steel in the short-term originates in
such stable microstructure. However, hardness and creep strength rapidly decrease with extending of soft
recovered region and differences in hardness, creep strength and microstructure disappear in the long-term of
a LMP exceeds about 20,000. Common creep rupture strength in the long-term regardless of initial
microstructure is thought to be governed by the inherent creep strength of the 2.25Cr-1Mo steel [14-16].
Corresponding to extending of soft recovered region, significant drop in rupture ductility was observed in the
QT steel, and it recovered in the long-term where a tempered martensite microstructure has been completely
recovered. It has been concluded that, consequently, significant decrease in rupture ductility is caused
because creep deformation is concentrated in the soft recovered region. Rupture ductility increased in the
long-term, since soft recovered region covered whole grain and creep deformation took place throughout the
material.

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Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels and Degradation due to Creep

4. Conclusions
The outline of the Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels was described and influence of initial
microstructure and microstructural change during creep exposure on creep rupture strength and rupture
ductility were mentioned.
1. The NIMS Metallographic Atlas of 2.25Cr-1Mo steels (No.M-4) published in March 2005, contains
information about microstructural evolution during long-term creep exposure of the annealed,
normalized/tempered and quenched/tempered steels with ferrite/pearlite, bainite and tempered martensite
microstructures, respectively. A number of optical micrographs of the steels in the as heat treated
condition and creep ruptured at the temperature of 450 to 650oC are displayed in conjunction with
relating creep rupture data, profile of crept specimens, bright field TEM images and hardness data.
2. Creep rupture strength and hardness of the quenched/tempered steel was higher than the other annealed
and normalized/tempered steels in the short-term, however, differences of the three steels disappeared
after rapid drop in strength and hardness of the quenched/tempered steel. No difference in creep strength
and hardness was observed in the long-term.
3. Large drops in creep strength and hardness of the quenched/tempered steel originated in an extending of
soft recovered area from the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundary towards grain interior. Although
high rupture ductility of the annealed and normalized/tempered steels are maintained independent of
creep testing condition, that of the quenched/tempered steel shows rapid drop corresponding to extension
of soft region and recovery in the long-term.
4. It has been concluded that significant decrease in rupture ductility of the quenched/tempered steel is
caused by concentration of creep deformation in the soft recovered region, and recovery of ductility is
attained in the long-term since soft recovered region covered whole grain and creep deformation can take
place throughout the material.

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