Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of P92 Main Steam Pipelines After Long-Term Service

P92 martensitic heat-resistant steel is widely used in ultra-supercritical (USC) thermal power units due to its excellent creep resistance and high-temperature strength. However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures induces significant microstructural degradation, compromising mechanical properties and operational safety. This study investigates the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties in P92 steel extracted from main steam pipelines after service durations of 30,000 h, 47,000 h, 56,000 h, 70,000 h, and 93,000 h. Comparative analyses of impact toughness, tensile strength, and creep strength were conducted and advanced characterization of SEM and TEM was used to investigate the microstructural evolution. The results reveal a progressive decline in mechanical properties with increasing service time. Specifically, impact toughness decreased by approximately 66.8%, room-temperature tensile strength reduced by 9.62%, and high-temperature tensile strength at 610 °C declined by 31.6%. Notably, the 10⁵ hour creep rupture strength exhibited a 10.4% decrease compared to as-received material. This decline is attributed to microstructural changes including precipitate coarsening, martensite lath boundary degradation, dislocation reconfiguration, and severe grain coarsening. The coarsening of precipitates weakens their bonding with the matrix, while the widening of martensite laths reduces resistance to crack propagation and dislocation movement, jointly contributing to strength deterioration.