Up-Scaling of Thermomechanically Induced Laves Phase Precipitation in High Performance Ferritic (HiperFer) Stainless Steels.

Fully ferritic stainless steels, strengthened by Laves phase precipitates, were developed for high-temperature application in the next generation of ultra-super-critical thermal power plants. Based on the rapid occurrence of thermomechanically induced precipitation in strengthening Laves phase particles, a novel thermomechanical process route for this class of steels was developed. A controlled precipitation of particles, in a desired morphology and quantity, and an optimization of the corresponding forging parameters was achieved on a laboratory scale.