Effects of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of F22M Steel for Blowout Preventer in Ultra-Deep Well

doi:10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00122

Acta Metall Sin

2026, Vol. 62

Issue (4): 587-598 DOI: 10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00122

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Effects of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of F22M Steel for Blowout Preventer in Ultra-Deep Well

JIANG Huimin¹^,², WEI Mengjie³^,⁴, HU Xiaoqiang³^,⁴(

), CAI Xin³, LI Dianzhong³^,⁴, DANG En⁵

^1.School of Rare Earths, University of Science and Technology of China, Ganzhou 341000, China
^2.Ganjiang Innovation Academy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ganzhou 341000, China
^3.Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
^4.School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang 110016, China
^5.Baoji Petroleum Machinery Co. Ltd. , Baoji 721002, China

Cite this article:

JIANG Huimin, WEI Mengjie, HU Xiaoqiang, CAI Xin, LI Dianzhong, DANG En. Effects of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of F22M Steel for Blowout Preventer in Ultra-Deep Well. Acta Metall Sin, 2026, 62(4): 587-598.

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Abstract

To ensure the safety of ultra-deep wells for oil and gas exploitation, the pressure components of blowout preventers (BOPs) are designed with large and thick sections. Existing low-alloy steels, such as 35CrMo, 20CrMoV, and 25CrNiMo, fail to meet the requirements of heat resistance, corrosion resistance, strength, and toughness necessary for BOP pressure parts in ultra-deep wells. A novel type of F22M steel, developed through synchronous micro-alloying with V, B, and rare earth elements based on F22 steel—a heat-resistant steel for steam power plant pipes—has been successfully applied in a test ultra-deep well. However, further detailed study of this steel is necessary for optimization. In the present work, the effects of tempering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of F22M steel were investigated by OM, SEM, TEM, and XRD. Additionally, the strengthening-toughening mechanisms of tempered F22M steel were analyzed. The results reveal that the microstructure of F22M steel tempered within the 610-670 ^oC range comprises predominantly bainite with a small amount of tempered sorbite. As the tempering temperature increases, the dislocation density decreases from 6.23 × 10¹⁵ m^-2 at 610 ^oC to 3.38 × 10¹⁵ m^-2 at 670 ^oC due to bainitic lath recovery. Moreover, M₃C carbides, which initially form as strips along bainitic lath boundaries, gradually evolve into spherical, dispersed granular M₇C₃ carbides within the matrix. Consequently, strength decreases smoothly, while impact toughness improves significantly. Notably, the impact toughness of F22M steel tempered at 650 ^oC reaches 277 J at -29 ^oC, 7.9 times higher than the 31 J observed at 630 ^oC. Quantitative analysis reveal that dislocation and precipitation strengthening are the primary contributors to the yield strength of tempered F22M steel. However, the softening effects resulting from bainitic lath recovery and carbide evolution during tempering significantly enhance the steel’s impact toughness.

Key words: F22M steel tempering temperature carbide impact toughness

Received: 25 April 2024

ZTFLH:

TG142

Fund: Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA0390100);Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Y2021060);Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program(XLYC2203158)

Corresponding Authors: HU Xiaoqiang, professor, Tel: (024)23971973, E-mail: xqhu@imr.ac.cn

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	JIANG Huimin
	WEI Mengjie
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	CAI Xin
	LI Dianzhong
	DANG En

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https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00122 OR https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/Y2026/V62/I4/587

Fig.1 OM (a-e) and TEM (f, g) images of F22M steel after different heat treatments and variation of dislocation density with tempering temperature (h) (d_Average—average width of lath)
(a) quenching at 930 ^oC
(b-g) tempering at 610 ^oC (b), 630 ^oC (c, f), 650 ^oC (d, g), and 670 ^oC (e)

Fig.2 Grain boundary distribution maps (a-d), LAGB/HAGB fractions (e), and effective grain size distributions (f) of F22M steel tempered at different temperatures (LAGB—low-angle grain boundary, HAGB—high-angle grain boundary, T—tempering temperature)
(a) 610 ^oC (b) 630 ^oC (c) 650 ^oC (d) 670 ^oC

Fig.3 SEM image (a) and TEM analyses (b-h) of F22M steel tempered at 610 ^oC (Insets in Figs.3b and c show the corresponding fast Fourier transform (FFT) patterns of the rectangle areas; inset in Fig.3d shows the corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of the rectangle area) (b-d) TEM images of M₃C (b) and M₇C₃ (c, d) carbides (e, f) EDS analyses of M₃C (e) and M₇C₃ (f) carbides (g, h) TEM image of the tiny ellipsoidal carbides precipitated in the bainitic ferrite matrix (g) and corresponding EDS elemental distribution mappings (h)

Fig.4 SEM image (a) and TEM analyses (b-f) of F22M steel tempered at 630 ^oC (b, c) TEM images of rod-like (b) and strip-like (c) carbides distributed in the bainitic ferrite matrix (d) high resolution TEM (HRTEM) image of M₃C type carbides in [100] _α bainite ferrite matrix (e) FFT patterns acquired from Fig.4d (f) overlaid diffraction patterns for Fe [100] _α and M₃C [110] simulated by single crystal software

Fig.5 TEM images of F22M steel tempered at 650 ^oC (a) and 670 ^oC (b) (Insets in Figs.5a and b show the corresponding SAED and FFT patterns of rectangle areas, respectively) and corresponding EDS analyses of M₇C₃ (c) and M₂₃C₆ (d) carbides

Fig.6 Aspect ratios of carbides in F22M steel with different tempering temperatures

Fig.7 Room temperature mechanical properties of F22M steel with different tempering temperatures
(a) strength and elongation (b) Brinell hardness

Fig.8 Impact absorbed energies at -29 ^oC of F22M steel with different tempering temperatures

Fig.9 SEM images of the impact fracture at -29 ^oC of F22M steel with different tempering temperatures (Insets show the corresponding enlarged views of the rectangle areas)
(a) 610 ^oC (b) 630 ^oC (c) 650 ^oC (d) 670 ^oC

Fig.10 Mass fraction variations of carbides in F22M steel with the equilibrium state among the temperature from 400 ^oC to 900 ^oC

Fig.11 Comparisons of experimental and theoretical yield strengths of F22M steel with different tempering temperatures (σ_{dis + ppt}—dislocation and precipitation strengthening, σ_gb—grain refinement strengthening, σ_s—solid solution strengthening, σ₀—lattice friction stress)

Fig.12 Schematics of toughening mechanism of F22M steel tempered at 610 and 630 ^oC (a) and 650 and 670 ^oC (b)

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