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Compositionally complex polycrystalline γ/γ′ CoNi-base superalloys, such as CoWAlloy2 (Co41-Ni32-Cr12-Al9-W5-Ti0.3-Ta0.2-Si0.4-Hf0.1-C-B-Zr) are interesting candidates for new high-temperature materials. To maximize their high-temperature strength, the γ/γ′ microstructure has to be optimized by adjusting the multi-step heat treatments. Various microstructures after different heat treatments were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and especially in-situ small-angle neutron scattering during heat treatment experiments. The corresponding mechanical properties were determined by compression tests and hardness measurements. From this, an optimum γ′ precipitate size was determined that is adjusted mainly in the first precipitation heat treatment step. This is discussed on the basis of the theory of shearing of γ′ precipitates by weak and strong pair-couplings of dislocations. A second age hardening step leads to a further increase in the γ′ volume fraction above 70% and the formation of tertiary γ′ precipitates in the γ channels, resulting in an increased hardness and yield strength. A comparison between two different three-step heat treatments revealed an increase in strength of 75 MPa for the optimized heat treatment.

Allvac 718Plus is a derivative of alloy 718 for applications at higher temperatures in rotating and static components of gas turbines. According to literature, various phases as γ, γ′, η, δ, and γ″ can form with so far contradicting results. Herein, the precipitation behavior in different alloy conditions is investigated using transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. The aim is to clarify how local variations in chemical composition alter the sequence of precipitation and type of precipitates that form. Material conditions with a minor volume fraction of η/δ phase and a high fraction of primary γ′ precipitates form γ″ phase due to excess of available Nb. Spherical γ′ precipitates with disc‐shaped γ″ precipitates at γ′ interfaces are observed. During discontinuous coarsening of η/δ plates mainly Nb is consumed which leads to an enrichment of γ′ forming elements and hence the heterogeneous nucleation of γ′ at the η/γ interface. The coexistence of thin η plates embedded in δ phase in grain boundary pinning precipitates could additionally be confirmed. These results show under which conditions certain primary phases form and how the resulting consumption and redistribution of phase promoting elements trigger the formation of other secondary phases.

The crack susceptibility during processing has a crucial influence on the workability of wrought alloys. In particular, the processing of high-strength alloys that are prone to cracking is challenging and various process parameters have to be optimized to achieve a good formability. The polycrystalline CoNi-base superalloy CoWAlloy1 provides a high potential for high-temperature applications due to it having a large forging window, a high γ′ fraction and excellent creep properties. In order to study its formability during hot rolling, its deformation behavior and susceptibility to cracking were characterized by sub- and supersolvus compression tests at temperatures between 1000–1150 °C. At temperatures around the γ′ solvus temperature, no cracks formed during the compression testing, while at lower temperatures, cracking occurred. Additionally, an in-situ high-temperature small-angle neutron scattering revealed the phase fractions and the precipitate size distributions at different processing temperatures. It was found that a high fraction of γ′ forms during cooling and cracking starts at the surface of the bar, when the hot bar encounters the cold rolls during hot rolling. Apparently, the precipitation of γ′, which causes a high strength and reduced ductility, and the absent recrystallization leads to pronounced crack propagation and limited formability below the γ′ solvus temperature.