Solid state SiC/Ni alloy reaction

The solid state reaction between silicon carbide and a model superalloy consisting of 70 at. pct Ni, 20 at. pct Cr, and 10 at. pct Al was studied between 700 °C and 1150 °C for times ranging from “0” hours to 330 hours. Reaction couples consisting of SiC/Ni, SiC/Cr, and SiC/NiCr were also studied. The reactions were carried out in air with the materials, in the shape of discs, maintained in contact under a pressure of 7 MPa. A reaction was detected with SiC and the model alloy at all temperatures studied, and the reaction was diffusion controlled with an activation energy of 184 kJ/mole. In the ceramic the reaction was dominated by the diffusion of Ni into the ceramic forming a banded structure consisting of alternating layers of δ-Ni₂Si and a two phase mixture of graphite and δ. On the metal side, the reaction was very dependent on the presence of alloying elements, with pure Ni reacting to the greatest extent, followed by the binary NiCr alloy, and finally by NiCrAl. The growth and presence of the phases detected in these reactions is consistent with phase equilibria concepts.