Stability of microstructure and mechanical properties of K17G cast nickel-base superalloy during prolonged aging

K17G cast nickel-base superalloy has an attractive combination of mechanical properties: high strength and good ductility as well as low density. In particular, after prolonged exposure at 750, 850 (both up to 10000 h) and 950°C (up to 1500 h), this alloy proved to have excellent phase stability and no sigma phase was found. The effects ofprolonged exposure on high temperature tensile and stress rupture properties were not serious and decreased gradually with aging time. The change in properties of specimens taken directly from the turbine blades followed those ofthe cast-to-size specimens. The rupture lives, tensile and rupture ductilities were approximately one third lower compared with those ofthe cast-to-size specimens, but still remained at reasonably high levels.     

Recrystallization of the ODS superalloy PM-1000

The primary recrystallization of a 1 0 0-fiber textured coarse-grained oxide dispersion strengthened nickel-based superalloy (PM-1000) has been investigated by high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction. The annealing behavior of this alloy is quite complex. Even at high annealing temperatures (e.g. 1200 °C), recrystallization is only partial. The microstructure of this superalloy in the annealed state consists of a blurred subgrain structure, coarse grains with sizes of about 10–20 μm at the pre-existing grain boundaries and a significant fraction of small crystals in the interior of the recovered grains. These small grains are elongated and display anisotropic growth. In the present paper we present a detailed explanation for this peculiar microstructure. Particular focus is placed on the origin of the new grains in the recovered structure in a [1 0 0]-oriented grain.     

Study on the castability and mechanical properties of thin-walled nickel-base superalloy

The castability and mechanical properties of thin-walled nickel-base superalloy castings fabricated by gravity casting and centrifugal casting were investigated. It is shown that, despite its microporosity has slight change, the casting fabricated by centrifugal casting presents fewer misruns and less Laves phase than that of gravity casting. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and stress rupture lives of centrifugal casting are improved by about 2.2, 7.4 and 41.1%, respectively. However, the elongation (EL) and reduction in area are sharply decreased by about 10.9 and 25.0%, respectively. Paradoxically, the stress ELs of both castings are similar. The seemingly contradictory results in mechanical properties stem from the opposite effects of centrifugal force on hardening elements macrosegregation and melt turbulence.     

Recrystallisation behaviour and mechanical properties of a novel Re-containing nickel-base superalloy

A newly developed heavily alloyed polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy containing rhenium and intended as a structural material for turbine discs in gas turbine engines has been studied. Homogenisation and heterogenisation heat treatments were developed for the as-cast superalloy, which led to improving the hot workability as compared to that of as-cast material. electron backscatter diffraction analysis of samples isothermally compressed at temperatures near the solvus temperature showed that continuous dynamic recrystallisation occurred in the superalloy leading to the formation of refined recrystallised structure. These results were used for the development of canned forging processing under quasi-isothermal conditions. The superalloy subjected to canned forging followed by aging exhibited superior high strength and high-temperature capability, while retaining reasonable ductility as compared to known disc superalloys.     

Microstructure–properties relationship of TLP-bonded GTD-111 nickel-base superalloy

Relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of transient liquid phase-bonded joints of GTD-111 nickel-base superalloy using a Ni–Si–B interlayer was investigated. Shear strength and hardness profile of the joints were discussed with respect to the bond microstructure. In the bonding condition, in which isothermal solidification has not been accomplished completely, eutectic constituent which has the highest hardness in the bond region is the preferential failure source. Additionally, it was found that when isothermal solidification is completed, the extent of γ′ formation in the bond region is the controlling factor for joint strength. Shear strength of bonds after post-bond heat treatment was close to that of the base metal.     

Modified Johnson-Cook description of wide temperature and strain rate measurements made on a nickel-base superalloy

In this study, uniaxial compression experiments of a Nickel-base superalloy is conducted over a wide range of temperatures (298–1073 K) and strain rates (0.1–5200/s) to obtain further understandings of the plastic flow behaviours. The temperature and strain rate effects on the plastic flow behaviour are analysed. The flow stress decreases with increasing temperature below 673 K. Within the temperature range of about 673–873 K, the flow stress varies indistinctively, and even increases slightly with increasing temperature. As the temperature further increases, the flow stress decreases again. The flow stress of the Nickel-base superalloy displays insensitive to strain rate below 800/s and an enormous increase with increasing strain rate in excess of 800/s. Then the effects of temperature and strain rate on the microstructure are discussed. The result shows that high strain rate and high temperature may make the grain boundary of Nickel-base superalloy frail. Taking into account the anomalous temperature and strain rate dependences of flow stress, modified J–C constitutive model is developed. The model is shown to be able to accurately predict the plastic flow behaviour of Nickel-base superalloy over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates.     

Effect of powder preparation technology on the hot deformation behavior of HIPed P/M nickel-base superalloy FGH96

In this paper, the hot deformation characteristics of P/M nickel-base superalloy FGH96 prepared by different powder preparation technologies were studied in the deformation temperature range from 1000 °C to 1100 °C and the strain rate range from 0.001 s⁻¹ to 1 s⁻¹ using hot compression tests. The peak stress vs. deformation temperature curves and the peak stress vs. strain rate curves were established, respectively. The results show that the specimens prepared by plasma rotation electric pole (PREP) powder were more sensitive to deformation temperature and strain rate. On the basis of the dynamic material model, the processing maps for hot working were developed. The activation energies and Zener-Hollomon parameters were obtained by linear statistical regression method. For the specimens prepared by PREP powder, the peaks of power dissipation mainly located in lower temperature domain (1000-1030 °C), and the efficiencies of power dissipation (EPD) obtained in the strain range from 0.1 to 0.7 were essentially similar. This indicated that strain had a slight influence on processing maps. For the specimens prepared by argon atomization (AA) powder, the effects of strain on EPD and instability domains were significant. The lower activation energies and Z values indicated that the workability of the specimens prepared by AA powder is better than that prepared by PREP powder. Moreover, it was found that effects of the heat treatment time on activation energy and Zener-Hollomon parameter were significant. With the increase of heat treatment time, the dislocation density and the volume fraction of precipitation phase gradually decreased. Microstructural observation demonstrated that the phenomenon of recrystallized grains coarsening existed in the specimens prepared by longer heat treatment time. The heat treatment time of the specimens prepared by AA powder should be appropriately shortened in order to prevent recrystallized grains coarsening.     

Effect of strain rate on microstructure evolution of a nickel-based superalloy during hot deformation

The hot deformation behavior of a nickel-based superalloy was investigated by means of isothermal compression tests in the strain rate range of 0.001–10 s⁻¹ at 1110 °C. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique were used to study the effect of strain rate on the microstructure evolution of the alloy during hot deformation. The results revealed that the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process was stimulated at high strain rates ($\dot{\epsilon }⩾5{\text{s}}^{-1}$) due to the high dislocation density and adiabatic temperature rise. Meanwhile, high nucleation of DRX and low grain growth led to the fine DRX grains. In the strain rate rage of 0.001–1 s⁻¹, the volume fraction of DRX grains increased with the decreasing strain rate, and the grain growth gradually governed the DRX process. Moreover, the strain rate has an important effect on DDRX and CDRX during hot deformation. On the other hand, particular attention was also paid to the evolution of twin boundaries during hot deformation. It was found that there was a lower fraction of Σ3 boundaries at the intermediate strain rate of 1 s⁻¹, while the fractions of Σ3 boundaries were much higher at both the lower strain rates ($\dot{\epsilon }⩽0.1{\text{s}}^{-1}$) and higher strain rates ($\dot{\epsilon }⩾5{\text{s}}^{-1}$).     

Effect of γ′ precipitation during hot isostatic pressing on the mechanical property of a nickel-based superalloy

The effect of the precipitation of γ′ phase during hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) on the mechanical property of a nickel-based superalloy, GTD-111, was evaluated by conducting tensile and creep-rupture tests at 871 °C. In the 4-h two-step HIP process, the coupons were isostatically compressed (at 120 MPa) and heated to 1230 °C, well above the dissolution temperature of γ′ precipitates into the γ matrix, for the first 2 h, and cooled down to a temperature to induce the precipitation of γ′ phase and held for the last 2 h at 120 MPa or at ambient pressure. The precipitates were controlled in size by varying the temperature for the last half of the process. According to the result of the tensile test, the mechanical properties of the alloy were varied upon the microstructural evolution, and improved more than 40%, compared to those of the untreated ones. The precipitation of γ′ phase under high pressure further improved in the properties, suggesting that the precipitation of γ′ phase at high pressure provides an advantage for the rigidity of the structure. Based on these findings, a 6-h three-step HIP process was tried, and proved to be an effective substitute for the normal heat treatment, especially in terms of creep properties. This feature was mostly attributed to the homogenized microstructure of HIPed ones, as evidenced by the X-ray diffraction patterns.     

镍基单晶合金CMSX-6的再结晶行为及热裂倾向

在不同热处理温度和载荷下,研究了CMSX-6单晶的再结晶现象。结果表明:在低于1 150℃×4 h热处理后,没发现再结晶现象,但在载荷的作用下,单晶退火时γ'相形成元素自发偏析,造成大量的大颗粒γ'相在共晶周围析出;随着热处理温度升高,载荷影响区再结晶经历由压痕周围胞状再结晶、枝晶干再结晶、多个等轴再结晶三个阶段;在高于1 150℃×4 h热处理时,单晶随着载荷的增加,再结晶的范围和深度明显增大;以及随冷却速率的增加,再结晶晶粒之间的热裂倾向增大,致使大量热裂沿晶界分布。     

Artificial neural network modelling to predict hot deformation behaviour of as HIPed FGH4169 superalloy

Abstract

The hot deformation behaviour of as HIPed FGH4169 superalloy was studied by single stroke compression test on MMS-200 test machine at the temperatures of 950–1050°C and the strain rates of 0·004–10 s^?1. Based on the experimental results, a back-propagation artificial neural network model and constitutive equation method were established to predict the flow stress of FGH4169 superalloy. The predictability of two different models was compared. The correlation coefficients of experimental and predicted flow stress with the trained BP ANN model and constitutive equation were 0·9995 and 0·9808 respectively. The average root mean square error (RMSE) values of the trained ANN model and constitutive equation are 0·39 and 2·21 MPa respectively. And the average absolute relative error (AARE) values of the trained ANN model and constitutive equation are 1·79 and 7·47% respectively. The results showed that the ANN model is an effective tool to predict the flow stress in comparison with constitutive equation.     

Microstructure and stability conditions for hot deformation of a modified iron-based superalloy

A modified iron-based superalloy is studied regarding its hot formability. The microstructure contained particles of titanium carbides, carbonitrides and nitrates. Torsion tests at high strain rate at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1200°C were conducted. Results of these tests were correlated by means of the Garofalo hyperbolic sine creep relation. An optimum forming temperature of 1260°C at 10?s^?1 is obtained. This temperature is strongly dependent on the strain rate. An activation energy for plastic deformation close to that for the activation energy for lattice diffusion in austenitic stainless steels and a stress exponent near 5 were obtained. These values suggest that plastic deformation is controlled by a dislocation climb mechanism.     

Process modelling of grain selection during the solidification of single crystal superalloy castings

A process model is described for the grain selection occurring during the solidification of single crystal investment castings, which are now used widely for a number of critical applications in gas turbine engines. The basis of the model is a thermal analysis of the heat transfer in the vicinity of the chill region onto which the molten metal is poured. Subsequently the competitive growth of grains during directional solidification is simulated via a cellular-automaton technique. For the purpose of model validation, processing trials have been carried out on a commercial single crystal casting furnace. The thermal cycles set up in and around the vicinity of the grain selector have been measured, and these are used to choose a number of critical parameters in the thermal model. The evolution of grain structure during competitive growth has been characterised using a number of analytical techniques, including orientation imaging microscopy. The results are compared critically with the predictions from the model. It is shown that the model is able to reproduce the statistical distribution describing the final casting orientation, measured with respect to the 001 crystallographic pole. The model is used to study the geometrical factors influencing competitive growth and the efficacy of two designs of grain selector, and in particular the conferral of any control of the secondary 001 orientation.     

Microstructure evolution and analysis of a single crystal nickel-based superalloy during compressive creep

During compressive creep, the cubical γ′ phase in [0 0 1] orientation single crystal nickel-based superalloy is transformed into the rafted structure along the direction parallel to the applied stress axis. By means of the elastic stress-strain finite element method (FEM), the von Mises stress distributions of the cubical γ′/γ phases are calculated for investigating the influence of the applied stress on the stress distribution and the directional coarsening regularity of γ′ phase. Results show that the stress distribution of the cubical γ/γ′ phases may be changed by the applied compressive stress, and the coarsening orientation of γ′ phase is related to the von Mises stress distribution of the γ matrix channel. Thereinto, under the action of applied compressive stress, the bigger von Mises stress produced on (0 0 1) plane of the cubical γ′ phase is thought to be a main reason of the microstructure evolution. The expression of the driving force for the elements diffusion and the directional growing of γ′ phase during compressive creep are also proposed.     

High temperature fatigue of the nickel-base single-crystal superalloy CMSX-10

Push–pull fatigue tests were conducted under a sinusoidal stress waveform with a frequency of 1 Hz and a trapezoidal one with a hold time in both tension and compression at 300 MPa-amplitude. Tests were conducted at a temperature of 1273 K using smooth bar specimens of the nickel-base single-crystal superalloy CMSX-10. Small cracks were observed on the surface of the interrupted specimens by means of optical and scanning electron microscopes and their number and length were measured. The fatigue behaviour was characterized as follows: (1) A number of small cracks were initiated at a relatively early stage on the grain boundaries of the surface oxide which were perpendicularly to the tensile stress axis direction. (2) Some of these cracks grew inside and reached the base metal. Their growth brought about final fracture of the specimen. (3) The creep strain during the stress hold period accelerated the growth rate of the small cracks and shortened the fatigue life.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the superalloy ATI Allvac 718Plus™

ATI Allvac^® 718Plus™ is a novel nickel-based superalloy, which was designed for heavy-duty applications in aerospace turbines. In the present study the high-resolution investigation techniques, atom probe tomography, electron microscopy and in situ high-temperature small-angle neutron scattering were used for a comprehensive microstructural characterization. The alloy contains nanometer-sized spherical γ′ phase precipitates (Ni₃(Al,Ti)) and plate-shaped δ phase precipitates (Ni₃Nb) of micrometer size. The precipitation kinetics of the γ′ phase can be described by a classical model for coarsening. The precipitation strongly influences the mechanical properties and is of high scientific and technological interest.     

Microstructural changes during the fractional melting of IN-100 cast nickel-base superalloy

The application of fractional melting to IN-l00 cast nickel-basesuperalloy can reduce its microporosity and lower the amount of γ+ γ’ eutectic. It can also homogenzze the dendritic eutectic and grain boundary segregations, which are greatly znfluenced by the applied pressure and maximum pressing temperature. After fractional melting the . . size and morphology of γ’ and the eutectic are slightly different, and some M₂₃C₆ preczpztates out. Chemical composition is little changed below 1323°C.     

FGH95粉末镍基合金的组织结构与蠕变断裂特征

通过对不同工艺处理FGH95合金进行组织形貌观察及持久性能测试,研究了组织结构对合金持久性能的影响规律。结果表明:经1150℃固溶和时效处理后,合金中有粗大γ′相在较宽的边界区域不连续分布,其周围存在γ′相贫化区;经1160℃固溶及时效处理后,合金中粗大γ′相完全溶解,在晶内弥散分布高体积分数的γ′相,并有粒状(Cr,Nb)23(C,B)6硼碳化合物在晶内及沿晶界不连续析出;经1165℃固溶和时效后,合金的晶粒尺寸明显长大,并有硬而脆的碳化物膜沿晶界连续析出。在650℃、1034MPa条件下,经1160℃固溶和时效合金具有较高蠕变抗力和较长持久寿命,蠕变期间的变形机制是位错以Orowan机制饶过γ′相、或位错剪切γ′相,其中晶界处不连续析出的粒状碳化物可有效阻碍位错滑移,是使合金具有较好蠕变性能的主要原因。蠕变后期,合金的变形特征是晶内发生单取向滑移,随蠕变进行位错在晶界处塞积,并引起应力集中,致使裂纹在晶界处萌生及扩展是合金的蠕变断裂机制。     

Formation of Fine Spheroidal Microstructure of Semi-Solid Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy by Hyperthermally and Subsequent Isothermally Reheating

The high strength 7xxx series aluminium alloys are usually difficult to be prepared as semi-solid feedstock, because some dispersoid particles （soluble only in liquid） could pin at grain and subgrain boundary to make the alloy difficultly recrystallise. In this work, a novel multistep reheating regime is developed for recrystallisation and partial melting （RAP） route to prepare fine spheroidal microstructure of semi-solid AI-Zn- Mg-Cu alloy. After reheating to 665 ℃, holding for 4 min and subsequent isothermally holding at 620 ℃ with total heating time of 15 min, fine spheroidal microstructures with grain size of-40 μm were prepared without remained unrecrystallised grains and directionality, which are much finer than the conventionally obtained microstructures （-100 μm）.     

Recrystallization of 30Cr2Ni4MoV ultra-super-critical rotor steel during hot deformation. Part I: Dynamic recrystallization

This paper presents an investigation that characterizes the evolution of the dynamically recrystallized structure of 30Cr2Ni4MoV ultra-super-critical rotor steel during hot deformation, as a starting point for studies of the static recrystallization (SRX) and the metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX) behaviors, by hot compression tests which are performed at the temperatures from 1243 K to 1543 K and strain rates from 0.001 s⁻¹ to 0.1 s⁻¹ on Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator, and the corresponding flow curves are obtained. A third-order polynomial is then fitted to the work hardening region of each curve. The critical stress for initiation of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) can be calculated by setting the second derivative of the third order polynomial. By regression analysis, the activation energy in whole range of deformation temperature is determined to be Q = 368.45 kJ/mol. The complete DRX grain size (D_drx) of the test steel is a function of Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) and is independent of the true strain. The relationship of D_drx and Z is found to be described in a form of power law function with an exponent of −0.24.