Phase constitution,microstructure and mechanical properties of a Ni-based superalloy specially designed for additive manufacturing

In this study, a kind of Ni-based superalloy specially designed for additive manufacturing (AM) was investigated. Thermo-Calc simulation and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were used to determine phases and their transformation temperature. Experimental specimens were prepared by laser metal deposition (LMD) and traditional casting method. Microstructure, phase constitution and mechanical properties of the alloy were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission scanning electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile tests. The results show that this alloy contains two basic phases, γ/γ', in addition to these phases, at least two secondary phases may be present, such as MC carbides and Laves phases. Furthermore, the as-deposited alloy has finer dendrite, its mean primary dendrite arm space (PDAS) is about 30-45 μm, and the average size of γ' particles is 100-150 nm. However, the dendrite size of the as-cast alloy is much larger and its PDAS is 300-500 μm with secondary and even third dendrite arms. Correspondingly, the alloy displays different tensile behavior with different processing methods, and the as-deposited specimen shows better ultimate tensile stress (1,085.7±51.7 MPa), yield stress (697±19.5 MPa) and elongation (25.8%±2.2%) than that of the as-cast specimen. The differences in mechanical properties of the alloy are due to the different morphology and size of dendrites, γ', and Laves phase, and the segregation of elements, etc. Such important information would be helpful for alloy application as well as new alloy development.     

Methods and mechanisms for uniformly refining deformed mixed and coarse grains inside a solution-treated Ni-based superalloy by two-stage heat treatment

The uniform refinement mechanisms and methods of deformed mixed and coarse grains inside a solution-treatment Ni-based superalloy during two-stage annealing treatment have been investigated.The two-stage heat treatment experiments include an aging annealing treatment(AT)and a subsequent recrystallization annealing treatment(RT).The object of AT is to precipitate some δ phases and consume part of storage energy to inhibit the grain growth during RT,while the RT is to refine mixed and coarse grains by recrystallization.It can be found that the recrystallization grains will quickly grow up to a large size when the AT time is too low or the RT temperature is too high,while the deformed coarse grains cannot be eliminated when the AT time is too long or the RT temperature is too low.In addition,the mixed microstructure composed of some abnormal coarse recrystallization grains(ACRGs)and a large number of fine grains can be observed in the annealed specimen when the AT time is 3 h and RT tem-perature is 980℃.The phenomenon attributes to the uneven distribution of δ phase resulted from the heterogeneous deformation energy when the AT time is too short.In the regions with a large number of δ phases,the recrystallization nucleation rate is promoted and the growth of grains is limited,which results in fine grains.However,in the regions with few δ phases,the recrystallization grains around grain boundaries can easily grow up,and the new recrystallization nucleus is difficult to form inside grain,which leads to ACRGs.Thus,in order to obtain uniform and fine annealed microstructure,it is a prereq-uisite to precipitate even-distributed δ phase by choosing a suitable AT time,such as 12 h.Moreover,a relative high RT temperature is also needed to promote the recrystallization nucleation around δ phase.The optimal annealing parameters range for uniformly refining mixed crystal can be summarized as:900℃×12 h+990℃×(40-60 min)and 900℃×12 h+1000℃×(10-15 min).     

镍基高温合金GH202高温氧化后的微观组织演变

研究了镍基高温合金GH202在800~1100 ℃高温氧化后晶粒、碳化物和强化相的演变过程。采用透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和电子背散射衍射对其微观结构进行了表征。结果表明：镍基高温合金的硬度随氧化温度的升高而降低，1100 ℃氧化100 h后，硬度降低了43.5%。800和900 ℃氧化后晶粒生长速度较慢，而经900 ℃氧化后晶界碳化物析出显著增加。在1000和1100 ℃氧化后，晶粒尺寸明显增大。氧化过程中晶界迁移是由晶界两侧自由能差决定，温度越高，晶界向曲率中心迁移越快，大量细小晶粒被吞并形成了大晶粒。大块状碳化物（MC）分解成大量的碳原子，与Cr原子结合形成少量的富Cr颗粒状M₂₃C₆。在900 ℃氧化150 h后，M₂₃C₆演化为富Ti的M₆C。随着氧化温度的升高，碳化物在γ相中回熔。在800、900和1000 ℃氧化后，γ′相逐渐长大，在1100 ℃氧化100 h后，完全溶解于γ相。     

Joining zirconia with nickel-based superalloys for extreme applications by using a pressure-free high-temperature resistant adhesive

In order to meet the high demand for joining ceramic/superalloy composite structure in extreme environments, a novel high-temperature resistant adhesion technique was developed for joining ZrO₂ and Inconel 625 by applying an aluminum phosphate emulsion/zirconium sol based adhesive. With increasing temperature, a series of reactions occurred in adhesive, and its high-temperature bonding was attributed to the formation of a composite structure containing various ceramics and intermetallics. The adhesive after RT curing could find direct applications in extreme environments, and provide bonding strength no less than 2.5 MPa in the temperature range of RT-1100 °C. The bonding strength was higher than 4 MPa in the temperature range of 800–1000 °C, which was further attributed to the formation of an effective CTE-gradient relationship among ZrO₂, adhesive and Inconel 625, as well as the interfacial reactions between the two substrates. The work broadened the application of adhesion technique and brought new ideas for joining dissimilar engineering materials.     

Effect of metallurgical evolution during post-weld aging treatment on localised corrosion of resistance spot welding joints of A286 superalloy

The combined effect of resistance spot welding and precipitation hardening on the localised corrosion of A286 superalloy is studied. The specimens tested by double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation were welded in the solution treated condition, and then subjected to different precipitation hardening treatments. For both base metal and weld nugget, the maximum localised corrosion is reached when η phase is clearly observable. The fact that the localised corrosion resistance of weld nugget is different from that shown by base metal may be explained by the segregation of Ni and Ti towards the interdendritic region of weld nugget (studied by using scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray analysis).     

On chemical and diffusional interactions between PCBN and superalloy Inconel 718: Imitational experiments

During a metal cutting process, chemical wear can become the dominant mechanism of tool degradation under the high temperatures and contact pressures that arise between the tool and the metal workpiece. This study focuses on the chemical and diffusional interactions between superalloy Inconel 718 and cubic boron nitride (cBN) tool material with and without TiC binder. It covers thermodynamic modeling and experimental tests in the pressure range of 0.1 Pa to 2.5 GPa at temperatures up to 1600 °C. The methods used include diffusion couples under both vacuum and high pressure, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis and in-situ synchrotron observations. It is shown that cBN is prone to diffusional dissolution in the metal and to reactions with niobium, molybdenum, and chromium from Inconel 718. Adding TiC binder changes the overall degradation process because it is less susceptible to these interaction mechanisms.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties in the TLP joint of FeCoNiTiAl and Inconel 718 alloys using BNi2 filler

High entropy alloy(HEA) of Fe Co Ni Ti Al and Inconel 718 superalloy were firstly transient liquid phase(TLP) bonded by BNi2 filler due to the diffusion of Si and B in the filler to the base metals. The effects of bonding time on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the TLP joints were investigated.Owing to the complete isothermal solidification of the joints bonded for 30 min 120 min at 1100°C,no athermally solidified zones(ASZs) formed by eutectic phases were observed in the welded zone. Thus the TLP joints were only composed by the isothermally solidified zone(ISZ) and two diffusion affected zone(DAZ) adjacent to the dissimilar base metals and the negative effect of the ASZ on joint properties can be avoided. In addition, the increase of the bonding time can also make the Ti B2 borides precipitated in the DAZ near HEA and the brittle borides or carbides in the DAZ near IN718 alloy decrease and reduce the possibility of the stress concentration happened in the joints under loading. Therefore, the highest shear strength(632.1 MPa) of the TLP joints was obtained at 1100°C for 120 min, which was higher than that of the joint bonded for 30 min, 404.2 MPa. Furthermore, the extension of the bonding time made the fracture mechanism of the joint be transformed from the intergranular fracture to the transgranular fracture. However, as the brittle borides in the DAZ near IN718 can not be eliminated completely and refining of grains also happened in such region, all the TLP joints fractured inner the DAZ near IN718 alloy.     

New insights into microstructural changes during transient liquid phase bonding of GTD-111 superalloy

The effects of joining temperature (T_J) and time (t_J) on microstructure of the transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of GTD-111 superalloy were investigated. The bonding process was applied using BNi-3 filler at temperatures of 1080, 1120, and 1160 °C for isothermal solidification time of 195, 135, and 90 min, respectively. Homogenization heat treatment was also applied to all of the joints. The results show that intermetallic and eutectic compounds such as Ni-rich borides, Ni−B−Si ternary compound and eutectic-γ continuously are formed in the joint region during cooling. By increasing t_J, intermetallic phases are firstly reduced and eventually eliminated and isothermal solidification is completed as well. With the increase of the holding time at all of the three bonding temperatures, the thickness of the athermally solidified zone (ASZ) and the volume fraction of precipitates in the bonding area decrease and the width of the diffusion affected zone (DAZ) increases. Similar results are also obtained by increasing T_J from 1080 to 1160 °C at t_J=90 min. Furthermore, increasing the T_J from 1080 to 1160 °C leads to the faster elimination of intermetallic phases from the ASZ. However, these phases are again observed in the joint region at 1180 °C. It is observed that by increasing the bonding temperature, the bonding width and the rate of dissolution of the base metal increase. Based on these results, increasing the homogenization time from 180 to 300 min leads to the elimination of boride precipitates in the DAZ and a high uniformity of the concentration of alloying elements in the joint region and the base metal.     

镍基高温合金锥筒形件拉深旋压成形机理研究

针对镍基高温合金因加工硬化严重成形时极易产生破裂和起皱等典型缺陷的问题,以锥筒形壳体类零件为对象,提出了一种由锥形预制坯经过真空固溶处理后拉深旋压成形锥筒形件的方法,并对其成形机理进行了研究。基于Abaqus/Explicit平台,建立了锥筒形件拉深旋压有限元模型,分析了成形过程中的瞬态等效应力、等效塑性应变、切向应力、壁厚及三向应变分布规律。结果表明:在旋压成形过程中,最大瞬态等效应力位于旋轮接触区及附近区域、最大瞬态等效塑性应变位于坯料口部;瞬态切向压应力最大值位于旋轮接触区,而瞬态切向拉应力最大值位于旋轮接触区附近的两侧区域。筒形段中部壁厚减薄,而坯料口部壁厚增厚。旋压成形试验表明,锥形预制坯经拉深旋压后可获得壁厚均匀的锥筒形件。