In this study, the phase transformation temperature of 15Cr12MoVWN ferritic/martensitic steel was determined by differential scanning calorimetry to provide a theoretical basis for the design of a heat treatment process. An orthogonal design experiment was performed to investigate the relationship between microstructure and heat treatment parameters, i.e., normalizing temperature, cooling method and tempering temperature by evaluating the room-temperature and elevated-temperature tensile properties, and the optimum heat treatment parameters were determined. It is shown that the optimized heat treatment process was composed of normalizing at 1050 °C followed by air cooling to room temperature and tempering at 700 °C. Under the optimum heat treatment condition, the room-temperature tensile properties were 1014 MPa (UTS), 810.5 MPa (YS) and 18.8% (elongation), while the values are 577.5 MPa (UTS), 469 MPa (YS) and 39.8% (elongation) tested at 550 °C. The microstructural examination shows that the strengthening contributions from microstructural factors were the martensitic lath width, dislocations, M₂₃C₆, MX and grain boundaries of prior austenite grain (PAG) in a descending order. The main factors influencing the tensile strength of 15Cr12MoVWN steel were the martensitic lath width and dislocations.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of GN9 Ferritic/Martensitic steel for sodium- cooled fast reactors have been investigated through orthogonal design and analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), tensile and impact tests were used to evaluate the heat treatment parameters on yield strength, elongation and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). The results indicate that the microstructures of GN9 steel after orthogonal heat treatments consist of tempered martensite, M ₂₃ C ₆ , MX carbides and MX carbonitrides. The average prior austenite grains increase and the lath width decreases with the austenitizing temperature increasing from 1000 °C to 1080 °C. Tempering temperature is the most important factor that influences the dislocation evolution, yield strength and elongation compared with austenitizing temperature and cooling methods. Austenitizing temperature, tempering temperature and cooling methods show interactive effects on DBTT. Carbide morphology and distribution, which is influenced by austenitizing and tempering temperatures, is the critical microstructural factor that influences the Charpy impact energy and DBTT. Based on the orthogonal design and microstructural analysis, the optimal heat treatment of GN9 steel is austenitizing at 1000 °C for 0.5 h followed by air cooling and tempering at 760 °C for 1.5 h.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of GN9 Ferritic/Martensitic steel for sodium-cooled fast reactors have been investigated through orthogonal design and analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), tensile and impact tests were used to evaluate the heat treatment parameters on yield strength, elongation and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). The results indicate that the microstructures of GN9 steel after orthogonal heat treatments consist of tempered martensite, M₂₃C₆, MX carbides and MX carbonitrides. The average prior austenite grains increase and the lath width decreases with the austenitizing temperature increasing from 1000 ^oC to 1080 ^oC. Tempering temperature is the most important factor that influences the dislocation evolution, yield strength and elongation compared with austenitizing temperature and cooling methods. Austenitizing temperature, tempering temperature and cooling methods show interactive effects on DBTT. Carbide morphology and distribution, which is influenced by austenitizing and tempering temperatures, is the critical microstructural factor that influences the Charpy impact energy and DBTT. Based on the orthogonal design and microstructural analysis, the optimal heat treatment of GN9 steel is austenitizing at 1000 ^oC for 0.5 h followed by air cooling and tempering at 760 ^oC for 1.5 h.