Baig Gyu Choi

Effect of long-term thermal exposures on microstructures and mechanical properties of directionally solidified CM247LC alloy

A directionally solidified CM247LC alloy was exposed at 871 °C and 982 °C for 1000 h, 5000 h, and 10000 h under free stress in order to study the effect of microstructural degradation on the creep properties. None of the specimens exposed at temperatures up to 10000 h produced any kind of topologically close-packed phases because of the excellent phase stability of CM247LC alloy. The plate-like M6C carbide was formed only at exposure of 982 °C for 10000 h through a decomposition reaction between γ and MC. Moreover, an M23C6 carbide layer was observed between the M6C and the matrix. The exposure at 982°C for 5000 h and 10000 h had a spontaneous rafting of γ′ under free stress, while the exposure at 871 °C for 1000 h, 5000 h, and 10000 h had a non-rafted structure. The spontaneous rafted structure resulted in a drastic decrease in creep life. A 3-dimensional morphology of γ′ in the as-crept specimens, which were pre-exposed at 982 °C for 5000 h and 10000 h, had a non-rafted structure. This microstructural feature proves that the significant decrease in creep life of the specimen resulted from a loss of coherency between γ and γ′.

High temperature deformation mechanism and evolution of dislocation structure during creep of Ni-Base superalloy 713LC

Creep deformation of cast nickel base superalloy 713LC has been investigated in a temperature range of 723 to 982°C. The values of the stress exponent and activation energy for creep of the alloy vary with a combination of temperature and stress. Introduction of threshold stress for creep of the alloy provided an explanation of the high values of the stress exponent and the apparent activation energy. Microstructural evolution of the alloy with creep deformation has also been studied. The analysis of the creep mechanism has been supplemented by microstructural observations after deformation under various test conditions. The dislocation structure of the alloy at high temperature and low stress was different from that at low temperature and high stress. Shearing of γ′ particles by dislocation pairs was the dominant creep mechanism at low temperature and high stress whereas dislocation climb over γ′ particles was the rate controlling process of creep at high temperature and low stress.

Mechanical Behavior of As-Cast and High Temperature Exposed Ni-Base Superalloy B1900

Microstructural evolution during high temperature exposure and its effects on tensile and stress rupture properties of the Ni-base superalloy B1900 have been studied. Tensile deformation of the as-cast specimen was concentrated in the localized slip bands in general. Stacking faults and deformation twins were observed in the as-cast tensile specimen tested at 871°C where the alloy exhibited the lowest ductility. Dense dislocation network formed at γ/γ´ interface during thermal exposure caused homogenous deformation in the thermally exposed tensile specimen. Thermal exposure did not have significant effect on the stress rupture lives of the alloy at 760°C and at and above 871°C but it reduced stress rupture life of the alloy at 816°C γ´ coarsening and coherency loss at the γ/γ´ interface during thermal exposure were primarily responsible for the deterioration of mechanical properties and characteristic deformation behavior of the alloy.

The Solidification Microstructure and Carbide Formation Behaviors in the Cobalt-Based Superalloy ECY768

Co-base superalloys have been applied in the stationary compoents of gas turbine owing to their excellent high temperaure properties. The stationary Co-base alloy components are generally manufactured by casting. Solidification behavior of the alloy is an important factor in the selection of casting parameters. In the present study, solidification microstructure and carbide formation behaviors were studied by directional solidification. Directional solidification experiments were carried out at the solidification rates of 0.5 ~ 150µm/s with the Co-base superalloy ECY768. Between the dendrites just below the final freezing temperature, MC carbide and M23C6 carbide were found. It was identified that the script or blocky carbides were Ta or W-rich MC carbide, and the lamellar carbides were Cr-rich M23C6 eutectic carbides. The solid/liquid interface morphology clearly showed that freezing of the Cr-rich eutectic carbide occurred just after the script type MC carbide.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Tensile Properties of Poly-Crystal and DS CM247LC Alloy

The effect of heat treatment in superalloy CM247LC on tensile properties at various temperatures has been investigated. In the case of equiaxed poly-crystal specimen, the aged condition (HTA condition) has higher strength than the solution treated and aged condition (HTSA condition) at low temperature. The HTSA condition exhibits higher strength than HTA condition in directionally solidified specimen in all temperature range. Shearing of γ´ particle is a principal deformation process at the low temperature, and cutting of fine secondary γ´ particle plays important role in the early stage of deformation in the HTA poly-crystal specimen. Tangles of short misfit dislocations form at the γ/γ´ interface during the high temperature deformation due to the partial loss of coherency at the interface. The rafting of γ´ increases tensile strength of the HTSA specimen at and above 871°C.