Thermal Stability of Advanced Nickel-Base Superalloys

• Published in: Journal of materials science 1994-05, Vol.29 (9), p.2445-2458
• Main Authors: Tawancy, H M, Abbas, N M, Al-Mana, A I, Rhys-Jones, T N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-2461

Exposures consisting of 1-900 h at 1000 and 1100 deg C after an ageing treatment at 16 h at 870 deg C were used to study the thermal stability of selected gamma '-strengthened Ni-based superalloys representing conventional (Inconel IN 100), directional solidification, (MAR M 002 DS), and single-crystal castings (RR 2000 and SRR 99). Various techniques of microscopy, spectroscopy and diffraction were used to characterize the microstructure. Primary MC carbides in the alloys studied were found to be stable toward decomposition into lower carbides. In the aged condition, the strengthening gamma ' phase assumed a cuboidal morphology; however, all alloys also contained varying proportions of coarse lamellar gamma ' and hyperfine cooling gamma '. On an atomic scale, the nature of the cuboidal gamma '-matrix interface was found to vary from coherent to partially coherent. However, the overall lattice mismatch varied from one alloy to another depending upon its composition and the distribution of various elements in carbide phase and lamellar gamma ' phase. Directional growth of the cuboidal gamma ' phase upon exposure to higher temperatures was found to be accelerated by a large initial lattice mismatch leading to a considerable loss of coherency, as indicated by the observation of dislocation networks around the gamma ' particles. Although the composition of the gamma phase remained essentially unchanged, there was a marked change in matrix composition. Sigma phase was found to precipitate in all alloys, but its thermal stability was a function of alloy composition. The initial decrease in hardness followed by a hardening effect during exposure could be explained in terms of the partial dissolution of the gamma ' phase and precipitation of sigma phase.