The Evolution of Complex Carbide Precipitates in a Low Alloy Cr–Mo–V Steel after Long-Term Aging Treatment

Complex carbide precipitates in a quenched and tempered low alloy Cr–Mo–V steel after long-term aging at 650 °C for 13,000 h and 30,000 h were investigated in this study. The mass fraction and sizes of precipitates were quantified by electrolytical extraction technique. The types of precipitate were further studied by combined X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometry. A series of carbide precipitates, namely MC, M7C3, M6C, and M2C, were found existing in the near-equilibrium state. The precipitate sequence of these carbides was identified as MC + M7C3 + M2C → MC + M2C + M7C3 + M6C → MC + M7C3 + M6C. It was clarified that the stable phases for the investigated steel aged at 650 °C were composed of MC, M7C3, and M6C. For the first time, the in-situ transformations of M2C to M6C and M7C3 to M6C were directly observed. It was also observed that the nucleation site of the M6C was located at the interface of M7C3 carbides and the matrix. The orientation relationships between the secondary phases of the in-situ transforming carbides aged for 13,000 h and 30,000 h at 650 °C were established. The coherent interfaces between these secondary phases became incoherent with prolonged aging treatment due to the exerted strain field of the growing carbides.