WELDABILITY AND

METALLURGY OF
WB-36

CONTENTS
1

A brief introduction

History and Evolution

Need of WB36

Mechanical properties and Metallurgy

Welding cycle for WB36

Practical problems with WB36

INTRODUCTION TO WB36 MATERIAL

Low-alloy ,heat-resistant steel 15 NiCu-MoNb 5 (WB 36)
Feed water piping systems with operating temperatures
of 340C maximum and but more typically ~250C.
Operating temperature in conventional power plants
450C
German nuclear power plants use the material mainly
below 300C and in some rare cases in pressure vessels
up to 340C.

HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF WB36

Work was initiated to develop these steels in 1930s.
Initially problem was faced in reaching to final mix of
this alloy as there was a tendency of hot shortness.
Finally this problem was overcome by doubling the
amount of nickel in the alloy along with additions of
Mo, Mn and Nb which also contributed in increase in
strength.

HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF WB36

1960

1970

1980

2001

2002

2005

Development & Optimization of the grade in Germany

First deliveries of pipes in WB 36 for conventional boilers
First deliveries for nuclear boilers

Introduction of Code case 2353 in ASME

Introduction of 15NiCuMoNb 5 in EN 10216
Introduction of T/P36 in ASTM A213/A335

WHY WB36?

Yield strength comparison at various temperatures

WHY WB36?

Minimum wall thickness pipe that could be used for an application at 320C
(610F) and 370bar with an internal diameter of 480mm

Carbon
Min:0.10
Ni

Max:0.17

Min:1.0

Max:0.030

Max:1.30

Cu

Min:0.50

Max:0.025

Max:0.80

Chemical
Composition

Si
Min:0.25

Mn
Min:0.80

Of WB36

Max:0.50

Max:1.20

Mo

Min:0.25

Max:0.020

Max:0.50
Nb
Min:0.015
Max:0.045

Cr
Max:0.30

CCT DIAGRAM FOR WB36

MICROSTRUCTURE FOR WB36

The Chemistry of P36 combined with an optimized heat treatment provides a fine
grain microstructure composed of bainite + ferrite and Cu hardening precipitation

HEAT TREATMENT AND MECHANICAL

PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS FOR WB36

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WB36

Co-efficient of linear expansion

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WB36

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WB36

Creep rupture tests on WB36

PRECIPITATION IN WB36
The strength of WB36 is based on Copper hardening
precipitation.
Precipitation is formation of extremely small
uniformly dispersed particles of a second phase
within the original phase matrix.
Copper precipitated partly in initial state.
The other part is still in solution and can be
precipitated during long-term operation at
temperatures above 320350C.
Increase in strength is caused by pinning of
dislocations by precipitates.

SOLUBILITY AND PRECIPITATION

WELDING CYCLE FOR WB36

PURGING
PRE-HEAT & INTERPASS

15mm thick 80150C

15-30mm thick 100180C
30-50mm thick 120220C
>50mm thick 120250C
DHT
PWHT
ASTM A182/ASME B31.1 595-650C for Class 1
material and 540-620C for Class 2 material with
soaking of 1hr/inch + 15 min on additional inch.

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WITH WB36

The service-induced

hardening and
decrease in
toughness

Increase in DBTT

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WITH WB36

PRACTICAL CASES
Following long hours of operation (90 000160000Hr)
some damage was seen in piping systems and in one
pressure vessel of conventional power plants during
19871992 which occurred during operation and in one
case during in service hydro-testing.
In all damage situations, the operating temperature
was between 320 and 350C.

An operation-induced hardening associated with a

decrease in toughness was seen in all cases.

Thank you