Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Creep Rupture Properties for Grade 91 Materials

Recent literature indicates that there is a concern regarding the short-term vs. long-term creep rupture base metal properties for Grade 91 material. Evaluations of recent creep rupture data suggest that the material properties degrade more severely than expected and extrapolated creep rupture properties may be very optimistic. One of the approaches to evaluate creep rupture data is with a parameterized master curve such as the Larson-Miller parameter. Evaluations of creep rupture data indicate that the effects of material degradation can be considered with appropriate stress, time and temperature relationships. Using the Larson-Miller parameter methodology, the selected heats of Grade 91 creep rupture data indicate a reasonable relationship that does not appear to degrade rapidly for the longer term data. If even longer term creep rupture data suggest severe aging degradation as compared to current extrapolations, a transition of the Larson-Miller parameter constant from 31 to 20 does not appear to be a good method to calculate the degraded life estimates. As longer term creep rupture data become available, resulting oxide thicknesses should be measured and reported. The adverse effect of oxidation at longer times, resulting in loss of material and effectively higher stress, should be evaluated.