Coarsening Behavior of L12-Ni3Al Precipitates in Alumina-Forming Austenitic Steel

doi:10.1007/s40195-025-01915-0

Abstract

Abstract:

The nano-scale L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates significantly contribute to thermal stability of alumina-forming austenitic (AFA) steels. The coarsening behavior of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates in AFA steels during isothermal aging with considering the influence of alloying elements was investigated. The results show that the coarsening rate of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates increases with co-additions of Ni and Cu, and especially, the increase of Cu content promotes the nucleation of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates. A dynamic competition exists between Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory and transient interface diffusion-controlled theory for coarsening behavior of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates with duration of isothermal aging. Additionally, the transition from L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates to B2-NiAl precipitates during isothermal aging results in the formation of a depleted zone of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates around B2-NiAl precipitates, which inhibits the growth of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates. The coarsening of L1₂-Ni₃Al precipitates significantly contributes to the yield strength of AFA steels.

Key words: Alumina-forming austenitic steel, Isothermal aging, Coarsening behavior, L12-Ni3Al precipitates, B2-NiAl precipitates

Shaoqiang Ren, Qingshuang Ma, Chengxian Zhang, Liming Yu, Huijun Li, Hongtao Zhu, Qiuzhi Gao. Coarsening Behavior of L1₂-Ni₃Al Precipitates in Alumina-Forming Austenitic Steel[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(11): 2063-2076.

Figures/Tables 18

Table 1 Chemical compositions of three AFA steels (wt%)

Alloys	Ni	Cr	Al	Nb	Mo	W	Mn	Si	Ti	C	Cu	Fe
20Ni-AFA	20.40	13.58	2.61	0.58	0.03	1.82	2.25	0.13	0.01	0.06	2.44	Bal.
25Ni-AFA	25.00	14.47	2.54	0.60	0.03	1.88	1.04	0.11	0.02	0.06	1.48	Bal.
30Ni-AFA	29.74	14.31	2.81	0.59	0.03	1.84	1.05	0.11	0.01	0.06	1.52	Bal.

Fig. 1 Microstructures of original forged steels: a 20Ni-AFA; b 25Ni-AFA; c 30Ni-AFA; d TEM image; and e SAED of 20Ni-AFA

Fig. 2 Microstructures of forged steels after isothermal aging: a 20Ni-AFA, 12 h; b 20Ni-AFA, 480 h; c 25Ni-AFA, 12 h; d 25Ni-AFA, 480 h; e 30Ni-AFA, 12 h; f 30Ni-AFA, 480 h

Fig. 3 TEM image a and SAED images b, c of 20Ni-AFA after isothermal aging for 120 h

Fig. 4 HRTEM image of L12-Ni3Al precipitates in 25Ni-AFA after isothermal aging for 480 h

Fig. 5 Volume fractions of L12-Ni3Al precipitates in three AFA steels during isothermal aging

Fig. 6 TEM morphologies of L12-Ni3Al precipitates in three AFA steel during isothermal aging: a 20Ni-AFA, 12 h; b 25Ni-AFA, 12 h; c 30Ni-AFA, 12 h; d 20Ni-AFA, 480 h; e 25Ni-AFA, 480 h; f 30Ni-AFA, 480 h

Fig. 7 Average radius of L12-Ni3Al precipitates in three AFA steels during isothermal aging

Fig. 8 Engineering stress-strain curves of three AFA steels: a 20Ni-AFA, b 25Ni-AFA, c 30Ni-AFA

Table 2 Tensile properties of three forged and aged steels

Samples	Aging time (h)	UTS (MPa)	YS (MPa)	Ε (%)
20Ni-AFA	0	703 ± 6	495 ± 10	33.6 ± 0.8
	12	776 ± 11	408 ± 13	39.5 ± 1.1
	24	840 ± 9	505 ± 9	32.2 ± 0.3
	120	783 ± 8	403 ± 10	39.5 ± 1.1
	480	792 ± 1	454 ± 7	28.5 ± 1.1
25Ni-AFA	0	638 ± 5	303 ± 1	46.5 ± 1.3
	12	780 ± 10	407 ± 2	44.2 ± 1.2
	24	825 ± 5	473 ± 5	30.6 ± 1.1
	120	875 ± 17	478 ± 3	38.9 ± 1.7
	480	894 ± 7	605 ± 11	27.9 ± 0.4
30Ni-AFA	0	703 ± 5	419 ± 13	36.6 ± 1.3
	12	811 ± 3	449 ± 2	39.9 ± 1.2
	24	852 ± 6	475 ± 4	37.6 ± 0.1
	120	871 ± 9	523 ± 11	29.2 ± 1.1
	480	898 ± 8	554 ± 2	29.1 ± 0.9

Fig. 9 Linear fitting between logarithm of average radius and logarithm of isothermal aging time

Fig. 10 Evolution of particle size distribution (PSD) of L12-Ni3Al precipitates compared with predicted results based on LSW theory and TIDC theory

Table 3 Average radius of L12-Ni3Al precipitates (nm)

Samples	Aging time (h)
Samples	12	24	120	480
20Ni-AFA	4.62	5.05	7.61	11.76
25Ni-AFA	3.87	3.98	6.60	12.32
30Ni-AFA	4.69	4.81	8.77	14.27

Fig. 11 Linear fitting results of rt3-r03 and isothermal aging time t

Fig. 12 Supercells with various Cu atomic spacings: a 2.44 Å, b 3.45 Å, and c 4.225 Å

Fig. 13 Slab of FCC-Fe/Ni3Al (111) interface terminals add Cu atom

Fig. 14 L12-Ni3Al precipitates depleted zone surrounding B2-NiAl precipitates in 20Ni-AFA after 120 h of isothermal aging

Table 4 Contributions of L12-Ni3Al precipitates to yield strength

	Aging time (h)	$\Delta \sigma_{{{\text{CS}}}}$ (MPa)	$\Delta \sigma_{{{\text{MS}}}}$ (MPa)	$\Delta \sigma_{{{\text{OS}}}}$ (MPa)
20Ni-AFA	12	323.2	37.6	385.0
	24	342.4	39.1	390.1
	120	433.4	45.1	402.3
	480	541.0	51.0	403.9
25Ni-AFA	12	422.6	35.6	383.0
	24	441.4	37.0	394.5
	120	575.9	43.1	399.7
	480	801.3	52.1	407.0
30Ni-AFA	12	554.1	37.8	385.3
	24	571.6	38.8	392.5
	120	769.4	45.6	391.3
	480	972.8	51.7	387.9

References 59

[1]	C. Zhang, Z. Yuan, Q. Gao, Q. Ma, H. Zhang, J. Bai, H. Zhang, L. Yu, H. Li, Prog. Nat. Sci. Mater. Int. 34, 396 (2024) DOI URL
[2]	L. Sun, B. Cao, Q. Ma, Q. Gao, J. Luo, M. Gong, J. Bai, H. Li, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 29, 656 (2024) DOI URL
[3]	Q. Ma, X. Li, R. Xin, E. Liu, Q. Gao, L. Sun, X. Zhang, C. Zhang, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 26, 4168 (2023) DOI URL
[4]	Q. Ma, X. Li, Z. Ma, L. Yu, H. Li, Scr. Mater. 169, 65 (2019) DOI URL
[5]	H. Jafari, E. Heidari, A. Barabi, M. Dashti Kheirabadi, Acta Metall. Sin.-Engl. Lett. 31, 561 (2018)
[6]	W. Tian, D. Wu, Y. Li, S. Lu, Acta Metall. Sin.-Engl. Lett. 35, 577 (2022)
[7]	Z. Liu, Q. Ma, C. Jiang, Q. Gao, H. Zhang, H. Li, C. Zhang, X. Lin, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 846, 143126 (2022) DOI URL
[8]	X. Guo, J. Zhou, X. Zhang, P. Yang, J. Ren, X. Lu, Comput. Mater. Sci. 214, 111673 (2022) DOI URL
[9]	Q. Ma, Q. Gao, X. Li, H. Li, Z. Ma, Solid State Commun. 360, 115026 (2023) DOI URL
[10]	Z. Yuan, Q. Ma, B. Lu, H. Li, H. Zhang, M. Gong, H. Zhang, Q. Gao, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 847, 143321 (2022) DOI URL
[11]	G. Shang, W. Zheng, J. Wang, X.G. Lu, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 846, 143294 (2022) DOI URL
[12]	S. Cao, H. Liu, J. Jiang, K. He, B. Lv, H. Zhang, L. Zhang, J. Meng, H. Deng, X. Niu, Acta Metall. Sin.-Engl. Lett. 37, 181 (2023)
[13]	H. Yang, Y. Liu, J. Jin, K. Li, J. Yang, L. Meng, C. Li, W. Zhang, S. Zhou, Acta Metall. Sin.-Engl. Lett. 37, 169 (2024)
[14]	Y. Yamamoto, M.P. Brady, Z.P. Lu, P.J. Maziasz, C.T. Liu, B.A. Pint, K.L. More, H.M. Meyer, E.A. Payzant, Science 316, 433 (2007) PMID
[15]	Y. Yamamoto, M. Takeyama, Z.P. Lu, C.T. Liu, N.D. Evans, P.J. Maziasz, M.P. Brady, Intermetallics 16, 453 (2008) DOI URL
[16]	Y. Yamamoto, M.P. Brady, Z.P. Lu, C.T. Liu, M. Takeyama, P.J. Maziasz, B.A. Pint, Metall. Mater. Trans. A Phys. Metall. Mater. Sci. 38, 2737 (2007) DOI URL
[17]	M.P. Brady, Y. Yamamoto, M.L. Santella, B.A. Pint, Scr. Mater. 57, 1117 (2007) DOI URL
[18]	H. Bei, Y. Yamamoto, M.P. Brady, M.L. Santella, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 527, 2079 (2010) DOI URL
[19]	Q. Gao, C. Jiang, H. Zhang, Q. Ma, H. Zhang, Z. Liu, H. Li, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 831, 142181 (2022) DOI URL
[20]	Q. Gao, B. Lu, Q. Ma, H. Zhang, H. Li, Z. Liu, Intermetallics 138, 107312 (2021) DOI URL
[21]	Q. Gao, Z. Liu, L. Sun, Q. Ma, H. Zhang, J. Bai, X. Lin, L. Yu, H. Li, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 25, 5372 (2023) DOI URL
[22]	Y. Li, S. Ma, X. Zhang, T. Xi, C. Yang, H. Zhao, K. Yang, Acta Metall. Sin.-Engl. Lett. 38, 383 (2025)
[23]	B. Gwalani, D. Choudhuri, V. Soni, Y. Ren, M. Styles, J.Y. Hwang, S.J. Nam, H. Ryu, S.H. Hong, R. Banerjee, Acta Mater. 129, 170 (2017) DOI URL
[24]	M. Detrois, Z. Pei, K.A. Rozman, M.C. Gao, J.D. Poplawsky, P.D. Jablonski, J.A. Hawk, Materialia 13, 100843 (2020) DOI URL
[25]	H.J. Kong, C. Xu, C.C. Bu, C. Da, J.H. Luan, Z.B. Jiao, G. Chen, C.T. Liu, Acta Mater. 172, 150 (2019) DOI
[26]	B. Zhao, J. Fan, Z. Chen, X. Dong, F. Sun, L. Zhang, Mater. Charact. 125, 37 (2017) DOI URL
[27]	B. Zhao, J. Fan, Y. Liu, L. Zhao, X. Dong, F. Sun, L. Zhang, Scripta Mater. 109, 64 (2015) DOI URL
[28]	Q. Gao, Z. Yuan, Q. Ma, L. Yu, H. Li, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 852, 143621 (2022) DOI URL
[29]	H. Shang, Q. Ma, Q. Gao, H. Zhang, H. Li, H. Zhang, L. Sun, Mater. Charact. 192, 112242 (2022) DOI URL
[30]	I.W. Chen, A. Davenport, L. Wang, Acta Mater. 51, 1691 (2003) DOI URL
[31]	J. Charkhchian, A. Zarei-Hanzaki, A. Moshiri, H.R. Abedi, J. Shen, J.P. Oliveira, K. Chadha, C. Aranas, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 20, 551 (2022) DOI URL
[32]	C. Zhang, Q. Gao, Q. Ma, S. Ren, H. Zhang, J. Bai, H. Li, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 894, 146177 (2024) DOI URL
[33]	I.M. Lifshitz, V.V. Slyozov, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 19, 35 (1961) DOI URL
[34]	C. Wagner, J. Electrochem. 65, 581 (1961)
[35]	A.J. Ardell, Acta Mater. 58, 4325 (2010) DOI URL
[36]	J. Zhang, L. Liu, T. Huang, J. Chen, K. Cao, X. Liu, J. Zhang, H. Fu, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 62, 1 (2021) DOI URL
[37]	J. Geng, N. Wang, Y. Mao, Y. Chen, Z. Hou, Q. Zhao, Y. Zhang, W. Ouyang, L. Zhu, Y. Zhao, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 885, 145609 (2023) DOI URL
[38]	L. Chen, M. Wang, Q. Wang, Y. Gao, H. Dong, H. Che, Z. Zhou, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 779, 139157 (2020) DOI URL
[39]	S. Zhang, Q. Gao, W. Zhang, Q. Ma, H. Zhang, J. Bai, H. Zhang, L. Yu, H. Li, Prog. Nat. Sci. Mater. Int. 33, 901 (2023) DOI URL
[40]	G. Kresse, D. Joubert, Phys. Rev. B 59, 1758 (1999) DOI URL
[41]	P.E. Blöchl, Phys. Rev. B 50, 17953 (1994) DOI URL
[42]	J.P. Perdew, K. Burke, M. Ernzerhof, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3865 (1996) DOI PMID
[43]	Z. Yang, B. Ning, Y. Chen, Q. Zhao, Y. Xu, G. Gao, Y. Tang, Y. Zhao, H. Zhan, Appl. Surf. Sci. 639, 158147 (2023) DOI URL
[44]	C. Romanitan, I. Mihalache, O. Tutunaru, C. Pachiu, J. Alloys Compd. 858, 157723 (2021) DOI URL
[45]	B. Zhang, Z.P. Luo, X.Y. Li, Acta Mater. 274, 119984 (2024) DOI URL
[46]	S. Zhao, X. Xie, G.D. Smith, S.J. Patel, Mater. Lett. 58, 1784 (2004) DOI URL
[47]	F. He, K. Zhang, G. Yeli, Y. Tong, D. Wei, J. Li, Z. Wang, J. Wang, J.J. Kai, Scripta Mater. 183, 111 (2020) DOI URL
[48]	A. Baldan, J. Mater. Sci. 37, 2171 (2002) DOI
[49]	Y. Dong, D. Zhang, D. Li, H. Jia, W. Qin, Sci. China Mater. 66, 1249 (2022) DOI
[50]	R.A. Stevens, P.E.J. Flewitt, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 37, 237 (1979) DOI URL
[51]	A.J. Ardell, Acta Mater. 61, 7749 (2013) DOI URL
[52]	Z. Zhong, Y. Gu, Y. Yuan, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 622, 101 (2015) DOI URL
[53]	E.A. Brandes, G.B. Brook (eds.), Smithells Metals Reference Book, 7th edn. (Butterworth-Heinemann, Amsterdam, 1992)
[54]	X. Zhang, Y. Ji, L.Q. Chen, Y. Wang, Acta Mater. 252, 118786 (2023) DOI URL
[55]	Y.U. Heo, Appl. Microsc. 44, 144 (2014) DOI URL
[56]	J. Moon, T.H. Lee, Y.U. Heo, Y.S. Han, J.Y. Kang, H.Y. Ha, D.W. Suh, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 645, 72 (2015) DOI URL
[57]	F. Wang, J. Wu, Y. Guo, X. Shang, J. Zhang, Q. Liu, J. Alloys Compd. 937, 168266 (2023) DOI URL
[58]	Y. Ma, Q. Wang, B.B. Jiang, C.L. Li, J.M. Hao, X.N. Li, C. Dong, T.G. Nieh, Acta Mater. 147, 213 (2018) DOI URL
[59]	J.Y. He, H. Wang, H.L. Huang, X.D. Xu, M.W. Chen, Y. Wu, X.J. Liu, T.G. Nieh, K. An, Z.P. Lu, Acta Mater. 102, 187 (2016) DOI URL

Coarsening Behavior of L1₂-Ni₃Al Precipitates in Alumina-Forming Austenitic Steel

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 18

References 59

Related Articles 3

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	Quanzhen Li, Chengming Li, Xiaojing Wang, Shanshan Cai, Jubo Peng, Shujin Chen, Jiajun Wang, Xiaohong Yuan. Microstructure and Shear Properties Evolution of Minor Fe-Doped SAC/Cu Substrate Solder Joint under Isothermal Aging [J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2024, 37(7): 1279-1290.
[2]	Changchang Wang, Yinbo Chen, Zhi-Quan Liu. Influence of External Interface Normal Stress on the Growth of Cu-Sn IMC During Aging [J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2020, 33(10): 1388-1396.
[3]	Jian-Guo Chen, Chen-Xi Liu, Chen Wei, Yong-Chang Liu, Hui-Jun Li. Effects of Isothermal Aging on Microstructure and Mechanical Property of Low-Carbon RAFM Steel [J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2019, 32(9): 1151-1160.