Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of G17CrMoV5-10 Cast Steel After Regenerative Heat Treatment

This paper presents the results of a research on the influence of regenerative heat treatment on microstructure and properties of a cast steel after long-term operation at the elevated temperature. The material under investigation was G17CrMoV5-10 cast steel taken out (in the form of a section) from an internal frame of steam turbine serviced for about 250,000 h. Performed research has proven that through the microstructure degradation long-term service contributes to an embrittlement and decrease in yield strength and tensile strength. The heat treatment, however, contributes to an impact energy increase regardless of the applied parameters (cooling rate). It has also been established that the optimum combination of strength properties and impact energy is ensured by the microstructure of high tempered bainite, whereas low strength properties and impact energy were obtained for the microstructure, which was slowly cooled from the austenitizing temperature, i.e., the ferritic-bainitic-ferritic microstructure.