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).     

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.     

A new solid‐state mode of hot corrosion at temperatures below 700°C

Preliminary results on a single‐crystal nickel‐based superalloy indicated that hot corrosion can occur at temperatures as low as 550°C, where liquid formation, generally believed to be responsible for Type II hot corrosion, is not predicted. Additional tests were conducted on pure‐nickel samples at 650°C and below to more clearly elucidate the mechanism of this very low‐temperature hot corrosion. Environments in dry air and O₂‐(2.5, 10, 100, and 1000) ppm SO₂ were studied. Based on the results obtained, a solid‐state corrosion mechanism was inferred. The mechanism relies on the formation of a previously unreported compound phase, which was identified using transmission electron microscope analysis that indicated the stoichiometry of Na₂Ni₂SO₅. Furthermore, it was nanocrystalline in structure and metastable. It was deduced that the Na₂Ni₂SO₅ formation was responsible for the rapid nickel transport required for the observed accelerated corrosion process. Moreover, its eventual decomposition resulted in a mixed product of porous NiO with embedded particles of Na₂SO₄. Application of the proposed mechanism to nickel‐based alloys is discussed.     

Simulating the effect of aluminizing on a CoNiCrAlY-coated Ni-base superalloy

MCrAlY (M = Ni, Co) coatings are commonly used on gas-turbine components as oxidation resistant overlay coatings and bondcoats for thermal barrier systems. The present work focuses on the effect of the aluminizing process on the CoNiCrAlY coating microstructure. In the as-received condition the outer part of the coating consisted mostly of β-(Ni,Co)Al with interspersed precipitates of Cr-rich carbide and Cr-rich boride precipitates. Formation of σ-CoCr was observed at the interface between the β-layer and the inner initial CoNiCrAlY microstructure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX/WDX) was employed to characterize the aluminized CoNiCrAlY coating. Phases were then identified by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Detailed microstructural studies of the coating were corroborated with the help of coupled thermodynamic-kinetic calculations to model the aluminizing process. The calculations were performed with the in-house developed code employing the commercially available thermodynamic and kinetic databases (ThermoCalc). The mechanisms of the observed microstructural changes were elucidated with the help of the modelling results.     

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。     

钻削GH4169高温合金薄壁件钻削力仿真研究

GH4169高温合金的薄壁钻孔与厚壁钻孔相比有特殊性,运用ABAQUS软件进行钻削GH4169高温合金薄壁件的仿真,研究钻削加工过程中钻削参数和工件厚度对钻削力的影响规律及变化特征,分析应力的分布规律。结果表明:钻削初期,横刃的挤压和主切削刃切削长度的增加使钻削力和扭矩增大;稳定钻削阶段,横刃切出后,主切削刃切削长度不变切削直径增加,钻削力和扭矩稳定增加;钻削后期,副切削刃参与切削,主切削刃切削长度减小,轴向钻削力和扭矩减小,但副刃与孔壁的挤压摩擦,曲线波动较大;钻削速度、进给量及工件厚度的增加都会导致轴向钻削力和扭矩的增加;钻削时的最大应力分布在横刃和主切削刃与工件的接触部位。     

热变形对GH4169合金中NbC析出相尺寸形貌影响研究

通过Gleeble3500热模拟试验机进行热压缩试验并结合微观组织观察和统计分析，研究了热变形对GH4169合金中NbC颗粒尺寸形貌、分布特征的影响规律。研究表明压缩过程中的绝热效应会导致试样心部温度的进一步升高，从而为变形过程中的NbC回溶提供条件。NbC颗粒与基体在变形过程中形成的高位错密度区促进了元素的扩散，并加速了小曲率半径的尖角区域回溶和钝化。随变形量的增加NbC回溶趋势增加，其平均尺寸与体积分数均呈降低趋势。变形过程金属流动会促进NbC颗粒的位移，在70%的变形量下，NbC颗粒平均间距增加趋势显著高于30%和50%变形量试样。因此随变形量的增加，NbC颗粒有从链状→链条弯曲→链条方向改变→弥散分布的分布特征，促进基体中原链状NbC呈细小、弥散分布。研究结果为GH4169闪光焊接性能的提高提供了直接的参考。     

一种镍基单晶高温合金高周疲劳引起的g′溶解行为研究

研究了一种镍基单晶高温合金SRR99在不同温度下的高周疲劳行为,试样采用[001]取向的单晶试棒。结果表明条件疲劳强度随着试验温度的升高先上升后降低,具有与高温拉伸强度表现出相同的变化规律。通过扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜的观察发现g′相的形貌发生了显著变化,经过高温循环变形后g′析出相发生了溶解。在交变应力的作用下,g′与基体界面产生大量的位错,而位错的往复运动引起了g′相的溶解。因此循环加载过程中伴随着g′的不断溶解,共格界面的强化作用不断减弱。 除此之外,通过裂纹扩展方向与试样轴向的夹角可以判断出疲劳裂纹的扩展主要沿着(111)晶面进行,根据扫描电镜和透射电镜的观察结果对于循环加载的微观组织演化机理进行了讨论。     

High temperature deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of wrought nickel-based superalloy GH4037 in solid and semi-solid states

Cylindrical samples of Ni-based GH4037 alloy were compressed at solid temperatures (1200, 1250 and 1300 °C) and semi-solid temperatures (1340, 1350, 1360, 1370 and 1380 °C) with different strain rates of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 s⁻¹. High temperature deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of GH4037 alloy were investigated. The results indicated that flow stress decreased rapidly at semi-solid temperatures compared to that at solid temperatures. Besides, the flow stress continued to increase after reaching the initial peak stress at semi-solid temperatures when the strain rate was 1 s⁻¹. With increasing the deformation temperature, the size of initial solid grains and recrystallized grains increased. At semi-solid temperatures, the grains were equiaxed, and liquid phase existed at the grain boundaries and inside the grains. Discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) characterized by grain boundary bulging was the main nucleation mechanism for GH4037 alloy.