Secondary hardening of low-alloyed creep-resistant steel welds

The T24 steel represents the new generation of low-alloyed creep resistant steels with higher creep resistance and lower carbon content. It was designed as prospective material for membrane waterwalls of ultra super critical (USC) power plants, enabling to avoid preheating and post weld heat treatment (PWHT) during welding. However, our investigations concerning secondary hardening of vanadium containing low-alloyed steels show that non-tempered welded joints undergo a significant increase in hardness during exposure to operating temperature. The results then imply that PWHT of T24 steel welds is necessary and this idea is at present supported by the occurrence of several troubles with new installations of USC blocks in Europe