Evaluation of thermal embrittlement in 2507 super duplex stainless steel using thermoelectric power

This research investigates the feasibility of using the thermoelectric power to monitor the thermal embrittlement in 2507 super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) exposed to a temperature between 280 °C and 500 °C. It is well known that the precipitation of Cr-rich α′ phase as a result of the spinodal decomposition is the major cause of the embrittlement and the loss of corrosion resistance in this material. The specimens are thermally aged at 475 °C for different holding times. A series of mechanical testing including the tensile test, Vickers microhardness measurement, and Charpy impact test are conducted to determine the property changes with holding time due to the embrittlement. The mechanical strengths and ferrite hardness exhibit very similar trends. Scanning electron microscopy images of impact-fractured surfaces reveal a ductile to brittle transition in the fracture mode as direct evidence of the embrittlement. It is shown that the thermoelectric power is highly sensitive to the thermal embrittlement and has an excellent linear correlation with the ferrite hardness. This paper, therefore, demonstrates that the thermoelectric power is an excellent nondestructive evaluation technique for detecting and evaluating the 475 °C embrittlement of field 2507 SDSS structures.