Effect of cooling rate on microstructure of simulated CGHAZ for modified high-Cr ferritic heat-resistant steel

The microstructure and carbide precipitate of simulated coarse grain heat affected zone(CGHAZ) in modified high Cr ferritic heat-resistant steel at different cooling rates have been investigated by means of thermal simulator, optical microscope, SEM and TEM. It was found that the microstructure of CGHAZ of testing steel was mainly lath martensite and delta-ferrite under the different welding thermal cycles. However, the prior austenite grain size reduced with increasing the cooling rate. Furthermore, with increasing the cooling rate, the amount of carbide precipitate inside laths of martensite increased, and the size and morphology of precipitates have changed from elongated and coarse to needlelike and fine.