No abstract

The major advancements in mechanical and thermal properties of the most recently developed single crystal (SX) superalloys can be attributed to the addition of specific refractory elements into base alloy compositions. The present study investigates the effect of modifying refractory addition levels on the solidification behaviour of SX superalloys systems. Specifically, a series of six Ni-base alloy compositions are set in a controlled manner, such that the chemical microsegregation effects of Re, W, and Ru can be independently assessed. Fabrication of grain-free SX bars from each alloy composition is achieved by utilizing a modified Bridgman casting process, with subsequent compositional analysis of the solidification structures via electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) methods. Further validation of these EPMA microsegregation results are supported by means of eutectic phase fraction analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. Qualitative partitioning results indicate typical SX alloy segregation behavior with elements such as Cr, Co, Re, Mo, and W all segregating towards the dendrite core regions, while the forming elements of Al, Ti, and Ta partition to the interdendritic-eutectic regions. Both Ni and Ru exhibit ideal segregation behaviour with no favorable partitioning to either liquid or solid phase. Quantitative EPMA results indicate that as the nominal Re level increases, the severity of microsegregation to the dendrite core regions rises dramatically for Mo, Cr, and Re. Evidence is presented that demonstrates the role that Ru plays in counteracting the microsegregation effects of both increased Re and higher overall total refractory levels. In addition to experimental trials, chemical partitioning predictions are also presented for the alloy system, utilizing a solid-liquid phase equilibria model generated using a customized chemical thermodynamic database. Using this CALPHAD approach, a comparison of the computational predictions and the actual experimental segregation results is also provided for discussion.

A new modified heat treatment has been developed for Inconel 718.

XD TiAl alloys (Ti-45 and 47Al-2Nb-2Mn ϩ 0.8 vol pct TiB 2 ) (at. pct) were oil quenched to produce fine-grained fully lamellar (FGFL) structures, and aging treatments at different temperatures for different durations were carried out to stabilize the FGFL structures. Microstructural examinations show that the aging treatments cause phase transformation of ␣ 2 to ␥, resulting in stabilization of the lamellar structure, as indicated by a significant decrease in ␣ 2 volume fraction. However, several degradation processes are also introduced. After aging, within lamellar colonies, the ␣ 2 lamellae become finer due to dissolution, whereas most of the ␥ lamellae coarsen. The dissolution of ␣ 2 involves longitudinal dissolution and lateral dissolution. In addition, at lamellar colony boundaries, lamellar termination migration, nucleation and growth of ␥ grains, and discontinuous coarsening occur. With the exception of longitudinal dissolution, all the other transformation modes are considered as degradation processes as they result in a reduction in ␣ 2 /␥ interfaces. Different phase transformation modes are present to varying degrees in the aged FGFL structures, depending on aging conditions and Al content. A multiple step aging reduces the drive force for phase transformation at high temperature by promoting phase transformation via longitudinal dissolution at low temperatures. As a result, this aging procedure effectively stabilizes the lamellar structure and suppresses other degradation processes. Therefore, the multiple step aging is suggested to be an optimal aging condition for stabilizing FGFL XD TiAl alloys.

The microstructures and creep properties at 760 °C and 276 MPa of three powder metallurgy TiAl alloys (Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb, Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb+0.5W, and Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb+1W (atomic percent)) are presented. The results indicate that the addition of W to the base composition, the use of a solution heat treatment combined with controlled cooling (to generate a fully lamellar microstructure), and the use of an aging heat treatment (to generate precipitate particles at the lamellar interfaces) improve creep properties dramatically. The solution heat treated and aged Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb+1W alloy has a time to 0.5% strain of 8.3 hours, a time to 1% strain of 46.4 hours, and a creep life of 412 hours with a rupture ductility of 16.9%.