Microstructure and Tensile Properties of Diffusion Bonded Austenitic Fe-Base Alloys—Before and After Exposure to High Temperature Supercritical-CO₂

Abstract

Austenitic Fe-base alloys, SS 316H and Alloy 800HT, were diffusion bonded for use in compact-type heat exchangers in supercritical-carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycles. For diffusion bonded 316H, grain boundary migration across the bond-line was observed despite the formation of some Cr-rich carbide, and its tensile properties were similar to those of as-received 316H. However, diffusion bonded Alloy 800HT exhibited severely degraded elongation compared to as-received 800HT due to the formation of continuous Ti-rich carbides along the bond-line. Post-bond heat treatment (PBHT) was found to improve elongation at fracture for diffusion bonded alloys. However, a subsequent corrosion test in S-CO2 at 600 °C (20 MPa) for 1000 h resulted in a loss of elongation. This was much more severe for PBHT-ed 800HT due to the formation of Cr-rich carbides at the bond-line. Meanwhile, it was found that the effect of ageing on loss of elongation during high temperature exposure was greater than that of S-CO2 environment.

Keywords

• diffusion bonding
• austenitic alloys
• supercritical-carbon dioxide
• ageing
• carbides