Influence of high-heat input friction stir processing on the structure and mechanical properties of an advanced creep -resistant steel

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Abstract

Abstract: Problem. Despite the uniquely high long-term rupture creep of 114 MPa at temperature of 650 °C for 100,000 hours of the new advanced creep -resistant 10Kh10K3V2MFBR steel, its practical application is limited by the lack of technologies for producing high-quality permanent joints. Traditional fusion welding technologies lead to degradation of mechanical properties due to hydrogen embrittlement, formation of -ferrite, and porosity. Objective. To determine experimentally the main aspects of microstructure formation (phase composition, phase morphology, martensite crystallography) and mechanical properties (hardness and strength) of 10Kh10K3V2MFBR steel after friction stir processing (FSP) with high heat input, as well as to establish the reasons for hardening in the stir zone and softening in the heat-affected zone, in order to assess the suitability of this steel for friction stir welding. Methods. Plates of 10Kh10K3V2MFBR steel 3.2 mm thick after normalization at 1060 °C and tempering at 770 °C were subjected to FSP using the parameters of 800 rpm – 5 mm/min. Optical metallography, SEM, EDS, and EBSD methods were used to reveal the mechanisms of microstructure formation in the stir zone (SZ) after FSP. Results. The possibility of producing a material with a fully martensitic structure in the processing zone and a minimal softening effect in the heat-affected zone after FSP was established. It was found that FSP with the parameters of 800 rpm – 5 mm/min leads to heating of the material in the stir zone above the Ас3 temperature (>985 °C). The extreme thermomechanical conditions of FSP contributed to the refinement of the prior austenite grains from 35 to 10 μm. The formation of a fine-grained martensitic microstructure, as well as mechanical alloying with wear products in the stir zone, contributed to an increase in microhardness from 230 to 420 HV in the center of the stir zone and to ≈760 HV on the advancing side of the stir zone. After FSP, the yield strength decreased by 55 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength decreased by 30 MPa, and the percentage elongation decreased by 6 %. Conclusions. High-temperature FSP of 10Kh10K3V2MFBR steel ensures the formation of a martensitic microstructure but is accompanied by intensive wear of the hard alloy tool and a reduction in tool service life.

About the authors

Aleksandr A. Kalinenko

Belgorod State National Research University

Email: kalinenko@bsuedu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7534-0542

PhD (Physics and Mathematics),
junior researcher of the Laboratory of Mechanical Properties
of Nanostructured Materials and Superalloys

Russian Federation, 308015, Russia, Belgorod, Pobedy Street, 85.

Ivan S. Nikitin

Belgorod State National Research University

Email: nikitin_i@bsuedu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5417-9857

junior researcher of the laboratory of mechanical properties
of nanostructured materials and superalloys

Russian Federation, 308015, Russia, Belgorod, Pobedy Street, 85.

Roman V. Mishnev

Belgorod State National Research University

Email: mishnev@bsuedu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8860-7453

PhD (Engineering),
senior researcher of the laboratory of mechanical properties
of nanostructured materials and superalloys

Russian Federation, 308015, Russia, Belgorod, Pobedy Street, 85.

Sergey S. Malopheyev

Belgorod State National Research University

Author for correspondence.
Email: malofeev@bsuedu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9145-3723

PhD (Engineering),
senior researcher of the laboratory of mechanical properties
of nanostructured materials and superalloys

Russian Federation, 308015, Russia, Belgorod, Pobedy Street, 85

Sergey Yu. Mironov

Belgorod State National Research University

Email: s-72@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2202-1518

Doctor of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics),
leading researcher of the laboratory of mechanical properties
of nanostructured materials and superalloys

Russian Federation, 308015, Russia, Belgorod, Pobedy Street, 85

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Copyright (c) 2026 Kalinenko A.A., Nikitin I.S., Mishnev R.V., Malopheyev S.S., Mironov S.Y.

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