Effect of chromium, tungsten, tantalum, and boron on mechanical properties of 5-9Cr-WVTaB steels

The Cr-W-V-Ta reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steels use tungsten and tantalum as substitutes for molybdenum and niobium in the Cr-Mo-V-Nb steels that the reduced-activation steels replaced as candidate materials for fusion applications. Studies were made to determine the effect of W, Ta, and Cr composition on the tensile and Charpy properties of the Cr-W-V-Ta; steels with 5%, 7%, and 9% Cr with 2% or 3% W and 0%, 0.05%, or 0.10% Ta were examined. Boron has a long history of use in steels to improve properties, and the effect of boron was also examined. Regardless of the chromium concentration, the steels with 2% W and 0.05-0.1% Ta generally had a better combination of tensile and Charpy properties than steels with 3% W. Boron had a negative effect on properties for the 5% and 7% Cr steels, but had a positive effect on the 9% Cr steel. When the 5, 7, and 9Cr steels containing 2% W and 0.05% Ta were compared, the tensile and Charpy properties of the 5 and 9Cr steels were better than those of the 7Cr steel, and overall, the properties of the 5Cr steel were better than those of the 9Cr steel. Such information will be useful if the properties of the reduced-activation steels are to be optimized.