L.H. Lou

Precipitate Free Zones along Recrystallization Grain Boundaries during Creep in a Directionally Solidified Superalloy

Microstructural evolution of an experimental directionally solidified superalloy with local recrystallization during creep was studied. Precipitate free zones (PFZs) were formed along the recrystallization grain boundaries that are perpendicular to the applied stress. The formation mechanisms of PFZs and creep cracks associated with PFZs were discussed based on the experimental observation.

Effects of Nb/Ti Ratio on the Microstructures of Two Experimental Ni-Based Cast Superalloys

Effects of Nb/Ti ratio on the microstructures of two experimental Ni-based cast superalloys of the Nb/Ti ratio 0.46 and 0.03 were investigated. The Nb/Ti ratio had a significant effect on the dendritic microstructures, especially the γ precipitate, of the two alloys under the as-cast condition. The amount and composition of primary MC carbides were closely related to the Nb/Ti ratio for that the Nb atoms have a stronger tendency to form the MC carbides than the Ti atoms. During thermal exposure, the primary MC carbides gradually degraded through two reactions: firstly MC + γ M6C + γ and then MC + γ M23C6 + γ. The Nb/Ti ratio had little influence on the reaction formation but obvious influence on the decomposition degree of the primary MC carbides decomposition. In addition, the second M6C and M23C6 carbides on the boundaries (GBs) gradually formed a continuous chain during thermal exposure. The γ-free zones appeared along the GBs as the growth of the second carbides and γ precipitates on the GBs when thermal exposure time last up to 3000 h.

Effect of Recrystallization on Crack Initiation and Propagation during Creep in a Directionally Solidified Ni-Based Superalloy

Crack initiation and propagation during creep test in a recrystallization (RX) grain containing directionally solidified (DS) nickel-base superalloy was studied by employing electronic backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique. Creep samples were locally deformed and then heat treated to get local RX at the center of the gauge length. Creep test was carried out at 980 °C/235 MPa. It was found that during creep test, precipitate free zones (PFZ) were formed along the RX grain boundary and the cracks were initiated and propagated along the interface (a) between PFZ and RX grains, (b) between PFZ and the matrix or (c) within PFZ. It indicated that the crack initiation and the propagation were crystal orientation dependent.