Creep and Oxidation Behaviors of Alloy 617 in High Temperature Helium Environments with Various Oxygen Concentrations

Abstract

Wrought nickel-base superalloys are being considered as the structural materials in very-high temperature gas-cooled reactors. To understand the effects of impurities, especially oxygen, in helium coolant on the mechanical properties of Alloy 617, creep tests were performed in high temperature flowing He environments with varying O2 contents at 800, 900, and 1000∘C. Also, creep life in static He was measured to simulate the pseudo-inert environment. Creep life was the longest in static He, while the shortest in flowing helium. In static He, impurities like O2 and moisture were quickly consumed by oxidation in the early stage of creep test, which prevented further oxidation during creep test. Without oxidation, microstructural change detrimental to creep such as decarburization and internal oxidation were prevented, which resulted in longer creep life. On the other hand, in flowing He environment, surface oxides were not stable enough to act as diffusion barriers for oxidation. Therefore, extensive decarburization and internal oxidation under tensile load contributed to premature failure resulting in short creep life. Limited test in flowing He+200ppm O2 resulted in even shorter creep life. The oxidation samples showed extensive spallation which resulted in severe decarburization and internal oxidation in those environments. Further test and analysis are underway to clarify the relationship between oxidation and creep resistance.