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A nickel-base superalloy based on the nickel-aluminum-tungsten system designated WAZ-16 was developed for high strength in the 1095 C (2000 F) to 1205 C (2200 F) range. Its tensile strength at the latter temperature is approximately 186 MN/m2 (27,000 psi). The combination of properties of the alloy suggest that it has potential as a stator vane material in advanced gas turbine engines.
In its simplest form diffusion bonding is accomplished by placing clean metal surfaces together under a sufficient load and heating. The natural interatomic attractive force between atoms transforms the interface into a natural grain boundary. Therefore, in principle, the properties of the bond area are identical to those of the parent metal. Other advantages of diffusion bonding over conventional methods of bonding include freedom from residual stresses, excessive deformation, foreign metals, or changed crystal structures. Stainless steels, nickel-base superalloys, and aluminum alloys have all been successfully joined. Complex hardware, including integrated flueric devices, jet engine servovalves, and porous woven structures have been fabricated. The processing involved is discussed, along with such theoretical considerations as the role of metal surfaces, the formation of metal contact junctions, and the mechanisms of material transport in diffusion bonding.
An investigation of the effects of pack variables on the formation of aluminide coatings on nickel-base superalloy IN-100 was conducted. Also, the thermodynamics and kinetics of coating formation were analyzed. Observed coating weights were in good agreement with predictions made from the analysis. Pack temperature rather than pack aluminum activity controls the principal coating phase formed. Solid-state nickel diffusion controlled coating formation from sodium fluoride and chloride and ammonium fluoride activated packs. In other ammonium and sodium halide activated 1 weight percent aluminum packs, gaseous diffusion controlled coating formation.
The compositional limits of gamma and gamma-prime phases in nickel-base superalloys are determined experimentally. It is found that gamma-prime had the following range of compositions for the various elements contained in this phase: 72.1 to 78.0 at.% Ni; 7.8 to 17.3 at.% Al; 1.5 to 8.9 at.% Cr; 0.3 to 13.9 at.% Ti, 0.0 to 3.9 at.% Mo, and 0.0 to 7.2 at.% W. The composition of gamma varied as follows: Ni is balanced; 1.9 to 15.4 at.% Al; 6.6 to 30.7 at.% Cr; 0.0 to 3.1 at.% Ti; 0.0 to 8.7 at.% Mo; and 0.0 to 5.0 at.% W. W additions to the gamma appeared to increase somewhat the solubility of Al in this phase. Mo and W added together decreased the solubility of Al in gamma.
A direct comparison of vacuum-melted, argon-atomized, hot-pressed, and extruded Unitemp C-300, an experimental, nickel-base superalloy, is made with as-cast and extruded material, with respect to mechanical properties and structural characteristics, utilizing the optimum thermomechanical processing variables previously established. Comparisons are also made with published mechanical properties of existing high temperature alloys in their temperature range of operation. These studies have established the exceptional versatility of this alloy for both high and low temperature applications and have shown that its strength characteristics significantly exceed those of the best currently available alloys on the market today.
Fabrication methods for tungsten fiber reinforced nickel-base superalloy composites were investigated. Three matrix alloys in pre-alloyed powder or rolled sheet form were evaluated in terms of fabricability into composite monotape and multi-ply forms. The utility of monotapes for fabricating more complex shapes was demonstrated. Preliminary 1093C (2000F) stress rupture tests indicated that efficient utilization of fiber strength was achieved in composites fabricated by diffusion bonding processes. The fabrication of thermal fatigue specimens is also described.
Turbine engines for aeronautic applications now have to face strenuous requirements concerning not only operating performances but also reliability and repairability. This evolution of the specifications induces important consequences regarding the choice and the design of turbine blade protective coatings. This paper presents several key features concerning the deposition techniques and the real-life behavior of such coatings: (1) complex aluminides well suited to the protection against high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion of directionally solidified nickel-base superalloy turbine blades; (2) ceramic coatings used as thermal barriers - they have to exhibit both high resistance to thermomechanical fatigue and adequate smoothness; (3) processing techniques for thermal barriers, including plasma spraying, electron beam physical vapor deposition and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; and (4) blades and coatings repair techniques.
In response to the elevated-temperature and weight-reduction demands of modern aerospace applications, a novel oxide-dispersion-strengthened low-density niobium alloy (LDNb-ODS) was fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). To overcome powder procurement barriers, L-PBF feedstock was produced by blending commercial Nb521, Ti64, and Cr powder with Y2O3 nanoparticles via resonant acoustic mixing. Following L-PBF and a 1400°C vacuum heat treatment, the alloy achieved a density of 6.73 g/cc and a fine mean grain size of 4.62 µm stabilized by uniform ~30 nm yttria dispersoids. Microstructural analysis revealed a chemically inhomogeneous build with lack-of-fusion defects and a titanium (Ti) shift from a nominal 31.5 wt% in the starting powder blend to 24.8 wt% in the printed part due to preferential Ti loss during printing. Elevated-temperature tensile testing demonstrated that LDNb-ODS maintained a superior specific yield strength of 60-85 MPa/(g/cc) up to 800°C, outperforming nickel-based alloys Ni625, Ni230, and GRX-810. Between 870°C and 950°C, its specific strength surpassed both Ni718 and Ni625. In rapid stress-rupture testing at 1093°C and 20.7 MPa, uncoated LDNb-ODS survived 21.4 hours (a tenfold increase over legacy C-103) while an R512E silicide coating extended rupture life to 84.8 hours, confirming that oxidation accelerates low-stress failure. These findings demonstrate that additive manufacturing of LDNb-ODS provides a viable, lightweight alternative to nickel-based superalloys for high-temperature (>850°C) aerospace components.
Superior oxidation protection for nickel-base alloys at temperatures up to 1367 K was obtained with cobalt-base alloy coating. Coating had 25 Cr, 14 Al, and 0.5 Y weight percent composition. Coating was applied by electron beam vapor deposition to thickness of 76 to 127 microns.
Five nickel-base alloys (Inconel 718, Udimet 700, Rene 41, Hastelloy X, and TD-NiCr), one cobalt-base alloy (L-605), and an iron-base alloy (A-286) were exposed in hydrogen at 0.1 MN/sq m (15 psi) at several temperatures in the range from 430 to 980 C for as long as 1000 hours. These alloys were embrittled to varying degrees by such exposures in hydrogen. Embrittlement was found to be: (1) sensitive to strain rate, (2) reversible, (3) caused by large concentrations of absorbed hydrogen, and (4) not associated with any detectable microstructural changes in the alloys. These observations are consistent with a mechanism of internal reversible hydrogen embrittlement.
Strength and workability of high temperature nickel-base, cobalt-base, and cobalt-refractory metal superalloys
The superalloys NASA-TRW VIA, B-1900, 713C, and 738X were tested cyclically and isothermally for resistance to oxidation in high velocity gas streams for 100 hours at specimen temperatures of 1000 C and 1100 C. Alloys VIA and B-1900, which were the most oxidation resistant, displayed slight and very similar weight changes and metal losses. Alloy 713C also sustained only slight metal losses, but it exhibited some tendency to spall. Alloy 738X was found to be the most susceptible to cyclic oxidation; this resulted in heavy spalling, which in turn caused high weight losses and high metal losses. Oxidation test results are related to the amounts of chromium aluminum, and the refractory metals in the alloys investigated.
Alloy has high temperature properties exceeding strength of all known superalloys. It exhibits inherent resistance to oxidation and high temperature hot corrosion.
The spectra of the pure metals tested and their oxides were used to analyze the patterns obtained for various superalloys. The quantitative results for two superalloys revealed differences between the surface compositions and their behavior under different conditions of oxidation. The following results occurred during the hot corrosion of samples in the presence of Na2So4: a lack of Ti migration; strong effects on Cr; and, a higher speed of alteration of superalloys.
The higher inlet-gas temperatures in new aircraft turbine engines make it necessary to use improved superalloys in engine design. Such superalloys are provided by WAZ alloys. NASA has explored the Ni-W-Al system in an attempt to find higher-strength nickel-based alloys for use as stator vane materials. Critical performance goals have been met with the new alloy WAZ-16. With suitable protective coatings, WAZ-16 appears to have considerable potential for high-temperature stator vane applications.
Iron-base and nickel-base alloys exhibit good oxidation resistance and improved ductility with addition of small amounts of yttrium, tantalum /or hafnium/, and thorium. They can be used in applications above the operating temperatures of the superalloys, if high strength materials are not required.
Screening tests using three commercial coatings (Jocoat, HI-15, and RT-1A) on the nickel-base alloy NASA WAZ-20 were performed by cyclic exposure in a Mach 1 burner facility. These tests showed Jocoated WAZ-20 to have the best cracking resistance. The thermal fatigue resistance of Jocoated WAZ-20 in both the random polycrystalline and directionally solidified polycrystalline forms relative to that of other superalloys was then evaluated in a fluidized-bed facility. This investigation showed that Jocoated random polycrystalline WAZ-20 ranked approximately in midrange in thermal fatigue life. The thermal fatigue life of directionally solidified Jocoated WAZ-20 was shorter than that of other directionally solidified alloys but still longer than that of all alloys in the random polycrystalline form.
Corrosion resistance of iron-base, nickel-base, and cobalt-base superalloys to lithium fluoride at cyclic elevated temperatures