Study of Creep damage in a 10.86% Cr Heat Resistant Steel using Synchrotron X-ray Microtomography

Synchrotron X-ray microtomography(SR-μCT) scans have been carried out on sample coupons extracted from the fracture specimens of a 10.86% Cr heat resistant steel exposed to crep deformation at 873K over stresses of 120, 150, and 180 MPa. The 3D cavitation characteristics in terms of void volume fraction, numbwer density and size distribution as a function of the applied stress has been determined by quantitative analysis of the reconstructed tomograohy slice datasets. The relationship between heterogenous spatial distribution of creep voids and variation in rupture life has been exploited in terms of microstructural sites during the onset of creep embrittlement.