A proposed method for estimating residual matrix chemistry in nickel-base superalloys
Estimation of residual matrix composition of nickel-base superalloys by phase diagram analysis
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Estimation of residual matrix composition of nickel-base superalloys by phase diagram analysis
An article made of a nickel-base superalloy having a nil-ductility range from the solidus temperature of the alloy to about 600.degree. F. below the solidus temperature is welded, as for example in the weld repair of surface cracks, by removing foreign matter from the area to be welded, first stress relieving the article, adjusting the temperature of the article to a welding temperature of from about 1800.degree. F. to about 2100.degree. F., welding a preselected area in an inert atmosphere at the welding temperature, and second stress relieving the article. Welding is preferably accomplished by striking an arc in the preselected area so as to locally melt the alloy in the preselected area, providing a filler metal having the same composition as the nickel-based superalloy of the article, and feeding the filler metal into the arc so that the filler metal is melted and fused with the article to form a weldment upon solidification.
A directionally solidified multivariant eutectic gamma + beta nickel-base superalloy casting having improved high temperature strength and oxidation resistance properties is provided. This comprises a two phase eutectic structure containing, on a weight percent basis, 5.0-15.0 tungsten, 8.5-14.5 aluminum, 0.0-35.0 cobalt and the balance being nickel. Embedded within the gamma phase nickel-base matrix are aligned eutectic beta phase (primarily (NiCo)Al reinforcing lamellae.
Evaluation of nickel base alloy compositions to determine base for development of wrought high temperature alloy with improved strength characteristics
Nickel-based superalloys with superior thermochemical, mechanical, and tribological properties are highly utilized for critical components in several high temperature applications such as gas turbines and nuclear reactors. Inconel 617, in particular, is considered as one of the main candidate superalloys for tribo-components in very-high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. Recent findings indicate that this alloy grows unique surface oxide especially in a high-temperature helium environment with distinctive wear, friction, and contact properties. Here, this study investigates the high temperature contact area evolution and frictional behavior of Inconel 617 using finite element simulation and provides predictive models for the contact and friction performance at different normal loads, dwell times, and temperatures. High temperature helium-aged Inconel 617 top surface properties (up to 600 °C) are utilized along with a single asperity-based deformable elastic-plastic contact model under combined normal and tangential loading. Machine learning is used to assist the finite element results and to predict friction coefficient as well as contact area evolution. While a small difference is observed in the instantaneous friction coefficient (no dwell time) for all temperatures, friction coefficient increases considerably with dwell time. This shows that the effect of contact creep for longer dwell times significantly dominants the effect of high temperature variation in basic mechanical parameters such as modulus and yield strength. It is found that increasing temperature and dwell times lead to the friction coefficient increase, yet the dominance of dwell time effects decreases at higher temperatures and loads. While the analysis is presented for Inconel 617, the methodology is easy to be generalized and can be applied to other HT alloys.
Class of nickel-base superalloys containing varying percentages of alloying elements have good workability and high strength at elevated temperatures /1500 to 2200 degrees F/.
Statistical techniques to develop nickel base superalloy with high temperature capabilities for jet engine turbine bucket applications
The hot corrosion of a nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 700, was studied in the temperature range of 884 to 965 C and with different amounts of Na2SO4. Two different modes of degradation were identified: (1) formation of Na2MoO4 - MoO3 melt and fluxing by this melt, and (2) formation of large interconnected sulfides. The dissolution of Cr2O3, TiO2 in the Na2SO4 melt does not play a significant role in the overall corrosion process. The conditions for the formation of massive interconnected sulfides were identified and a mechanism of degradation due to sulfide formation is described. The formation of Ns2MoO4 - MoO3 melt requires an induction period and various physiochemical processes during the induction period were identified. The factors affecting the length of the induction period were also examined. The melt penetration through the oxide appears to be the prime mode of degradation whether the degradation is due to the formation of sulfides or the formation of the Na2MoO4 - MoO3 melt.
The creep behavior of a directionally solidifified nickel-base superalloy, DKS3, has been investigated as a function of the volume fraction and size of the gamma-prime phase at 760 and 950 C. The dislocation structure and morphology of gamma-prime was examined by transmission electron microscopy at the primary, secondary and tertiary creep stages at 73.8 kgf/sq mm. Experimental results are described in terms of a high temperature creep model in the range of temperatures and applied stresses where shearing of the gamma-prime phase does not control the straining process.
The hot corrosion of a nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 700, was studied in the temperture range of 884 to 965 C and with different amounts of Na2SO4. Two different modes of degradation were identified: (1) formation of Na2MoO4-MoO3 melt and fluxing by this melt, and (2) formation of large interconnected sulfides. The dissolution of Cr2O3, TiO2 in the Na2SO4 melt does not play a significnt role in the overall corrosion process. The conditions for the formation of massive interconnected sulfides were identified and a mechanism of degradation due to sulfide formation is described. The formation of Na2MoO4-MoO3 melt requires an induction period and various physiochemical processes during the induction period were identified. The factors affecting the length of the induction period were also examined. The melt penetration through the oxide appears to be the prime mode of degradation whether the degradation is due to the formation of sulfides or the formation of the Na2MoO4-MoO3 melt.
The microstructure of a single-crystal nickel-base superalloy, PWA 1480, has been varied by heat treatment and hot isostatic pressing in order to study the role of the gamma/gamma-prime eutectic and porosity on subsequent tensile behavior. The level of porosity was found not to affect any of the tensile properties, while the gamma/gamma-prime eutectic strongly influenced ductility. Eliminating the gamma/gamma-prime eutectic increased ductility which was attributed to the cleavage fracture of this constituent. It is proposed that such cleavage of the gamma/gamma-prime eutectic is initiated by the stress created from impinging slip bands, promoting shear localization, and final fracture along 111 slip planes. The precise nature of this fracture process is discussed, with emphasis on the role of the gamma/gamma-prime microstructure. The deformation structure of PWA 1480 was also studied, and while different in some respects from many other single-crystal superalloys, its fracture process appears to be similar.
The effect of cobalt on the workability of nickel-base superalloys is examined with reference to experimental results for four heats of alloys based on the Nimonic 115 composition with varying amounts of nickel substituted for the nominal 14 percent cobalt. It is shown that Co lowers the gamma-prime solvus, which in turn lowers the Cr23C6 carbide solvus. It is further shown that these solvus temperatures bracket the hot working range for the alloys. However, thermomechanical processing modifications reflecting the effect of Co on the gamma-prime and carbide solvi are shown to restore the workability and the properties of alloys with little or no cobalt.
Fatigue crack initiation at high temperatures occurs at microscopic fatigue shear bands that form near twin boundaries in polycrystalline nickel-base superalloys that contain minimal metallurgical defects. The associated dislocation sub-structure is complex and dependent on thermal and mechanical conditions. Here we show the formation of fine-scale carbide precipitates along these fatigue shear bands in a nickel-base superalloy during fatigue above 650 °C. The formation of carbide precipitates is studied using calculations of bulk and pipe diffusion. The contribution of pipe diffusion is observed to be critical in the formation of fine-scale carbides and occurs coincident with the delocalization of slip during fatigue.
Cavitation damage to high purity metals and nickel base superalloy in water
The elevated temperature cyclic crack propagation behavior of a nickel base superalloy, Astroloy, produced by a hot isostatic pressing technique has been evaluated. Environment, frequency and peak load hold times have been controlled to evaluate the effects of creep and environment of fatigue crack propagation rates at several temperatures.
The thermomechanical fatigue behavior of a nickel-base superalloy single crystal was investigated using a bithermal test technique. The bithermal fatigue test was used as a simple alternative to the more complex thermomechanical fatigue test. Both in-phase and out-of-phase bithermal tests were performed on (100)-oriented coated and bare Rene N4 single crystals. In out-of-plane bithermal tests, the tensile and compressive halves of the cycle were applied isothermally at 760 and 982 C, respectively, while for the in-phase bithermal tests the temperature-loading sequence was reversed. The bithermal fatigue lives of bare specimens were shorter than the isothermal fatigue lives at either temperature extreme when compared on an inelastic strain basis. Both in-phase and out-of-phase bithermal fatigue life curves converged in the large strain regime and diverged in the small strain regime, out-of-phase resulting in the shortest lives. The coating had no effect on life for specimens cycled in-phase; however, the coating was detrimental for isothermal fatigue at 760 C and for out-of-phase fatigue under large strains.
In this work the rapid alloy selection and subsequent processability via additive manufacturing of nickelbased superalloys was investigated. Rapid alloy selection protocols developed within the project produced two viable nickel-based superalloys. This phase I CRADA demonstrates a viable route for selecting new nickel-based superalloys for additive manufacturing.
In this work the rapid alloy selection and subsequent processability via additive manufacturing of nickelbased superalloys was investigated. Rapid alloy selection protocols developed within the project produced two viable nickel-based superalloys. This phase I CRADA demonstrates a viable route for selecting new nickel-based superalloys for additive manufacturing.