On the Relationship between the Chromium Concentration, theZ-Phase Formation and the Creep Strength of Ferritic-Martensitic Steels

In this study, the long term creep strength behavior of commercial heat resistant martensitic/ferritic steels with Cr levels ranging from 1 to 15 wt% is analyzed by linking their computed equilibrium compositions to their creep properties. At lower Cr levels, the calculated strength due to precipitation hardening agrees well with the experimental results. At high chromium levels and longer exposure times, an accelerated strength loss due to the...