Effect of Ru on microstructural evolution during heat treatment in single crystal superalloys

Abstract

The effect of Ru addition on the as cast microstructure, structural evolution during heat treatment and long term aging was employed in single crystal superalloys with different contents of Ru addition (0, 1·5 and 3·0 wt-%). The results show that NiAl based β phase can occur in the interdendritic region in 3Ru alloy. With increasing Ru content in the alloys, the incipient melting temperature of alloy decreases gradually, while the liquidus and solidus changed slightly. After solution treatment and the same aging treatment, the γ′ phase size decreased with increasing Ru addition. An remarkable inverse partition of alloying elements, i.e. more matrix forming elements Re and Mo distribute to the γ′ phase and more Ni element distribute to the matrix, was observed in the alloys with more Ru content after aging treatment. Ru addition can accelerate the rafting of γ′ phase and suppress the precipitation of topologically close packed (TCP) phases effectively.     

Structural and mechanical characterization of Al-based composite reinforced with heat treated Al2O3 particles

In this study, the addition of 1.00 wt.% Al₂O₃ crystals to the metal matrix of the liquid aluminum was studied. In order to investigate the influence of heat treatment on activation of Al₂O₃ powders and mechanical properties of Al–Al₂O₃ composites, the Al₂O₃ particles were heated at 1000 °C. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis used to characterize the crystal lattice of Al₂O₃ and its variation during heat treatment. The size and morphology of the Al₂O₃ grains was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed a considerable change in morphology of Al₂O₃ grains during the heat treatment. Mechanical evaluation such as hardness, compression and wear tests showed enhancement in the properties of Al–1.00 wt.% heat treated Al₂O₃ vs. Al–1.00 wt.% Al₂O₃ composite.     

Effect of heat treatment on microstructure,hardness and rollability of V55Ti30Ni15 alloy membranes

The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure, hardness and rollability of V₅₅Ti₃₀Ni₁₅ alloy membranes has been investigated in this study. The microstructure resulting from different heat treatment conditions has a great influence on hardness. Fine NiTi particles precipitate from the supersaturated V-matrix solid solution at temperatures above 600 °C, increase in quantity until 800 °C, then dissolve back into the V-matrix with a further increase in temperature up to 950 °C. The resultant hardness decreases with temperature until 800 °C, and then increases from 800 to 950 °C. In the present study, a comparison has been made between the rollability of the as-cast and the heat treated state selected for deformation at different rolling temperatures. The percent reduction in thickness of the heat-treated alloy (800 °C/18 h) has been found to be up to 30% higher than that of the as-cast alloy, even at room temperature (cold rolling).     

Study of standard heat treatment on mechanical properties of Inconel 718 using ball indentation technique

The effect of standard heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ni–Fe base super-alloy, Inconel 718 was studied by optical microscopy and ball indentation technique (BIT) using small amount of specimen. In order to get good ductility, good formability, yield, tensile and creep rupture, as-received material was given the standard heat treatment, viz solution treatment at two temperatures 940 °C and 1040 °C for1 h and water quenched (WQ) followed by aging treatment at 720 °C for 8 h. and furnace cooling (FC). The BIT has revealed that the strengths for as-received material are maximum compared to other heat-treated materials. After solution treatment there has been a radical decline in strength. But the ageing causes a significant enhancement of strength. Optical microscopy studies supported the obtained BIT results. γ″-phase is the basic strengthening phase in 718 alloys.     

Recrystallization of the hot isostatic pressed nickel-base superalloy FGH4096: I. Microstructure and mechanism

Hot isostatic pressed (HIPed) nickel-based superalloy FGH4096 behaves a unique flow behavior in hot compression process due to the formation of necklace microstructure and leads to its characteristic dynamic recrystallization (DRX). In this process, dislocations activate the occurrence of DRX at prior particle boundaries (PPB) and the PPB is entirely covered with DRX grains, which forms the first layer in necklace structure. In this paper, two nucleation mechanisms, viz., bulge corrugation (BC) nucleation and dislocation induce phase (DIP) nucleation, are proposed. Based on the proposed mechanisms, the recrystallization firstly occurs in PPB via BC mechanism. The DIP nucleation occurs when the hot plastic deformation is carried out at the temperature below the γ′ phase solution temperature. To verify the proposed mechanisms, hot compression experiments were conducted. The models are then verified based on the experiments. Furthermore, the recrystallization activation energy of 922 kJ/mol is determined, which includes the growth energy and the two nucleation energies, viz., BC and DIP nucleation energies.     

Stability of microstructure and mechanical properties of K17G cast nickel-base superalloy during prolonged aging

K17G cast nickel-base superalloy has an attractive combination of mechanical properties: high strength and good ductility as well as low density. In particular, after prolonged exposure at 750, 850 (both up to 10000 h) and 950°C (up to 1500 h), this alloy proved to have excellent phase stability and no sigma phase was found. The effects ofprolonged exposure on high temperature tensile and stress rupture properties were not serious and decreased gradually with aging time. The change in properties of specimens taken directly from the turbine blades followed those ofthe cast-to-size specimens. The rupture lives, tensile and rupture ductilities were approximately one third lower compared with those ofthe cast-to-size specimens, but still remained at reasonably high levels.     

Micromechanisms of fatigue crack growth in a forged Inconel 718 nickel-based superalloy

The micromechanisms of fatigue crack propagation in a forged, polycrystalline IN 718 nickel-based superalloy are evaluated. Fracture modes under cyclic loading were established by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results of the fractographic analysis are presented on a fracture mechanism map that shows the dependence of fracture modes on the maximum stress intensity factor, K_max, and the stress intensity factor range, ΔK. Plastic deformation associated with fatigue crack growth was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The effects of ΔK and K_max on the mechanisms of fatigue crack growth in this alloy are discussed within the context of a two-parameter crack growth law. Possible extensions to the Paris law are also proposed for crack growth in the near-threshold and high ΔK regimes.     

Microstructural response to heat affected zone cracking of prewelding heat-treated Inconel 939 superalloy

The microstructural response to cracking in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a nickel-based IN 939 superalloy after prewelding heat treatments (PWHT) was investigated. The PWHT specimens showed two different microstructures: 1) spherical ordered γ′ precipitates (357–442 nm), with blocky MC and discreet M₂₃C₆ carbides dispersed within the coarse dendrites and in the interdendritic regions; and 2) ordered γ′ precipitates in “ogdoadically” diced cube shapes and coarse MC carbides within the dendrites and in the interdendritic regions. After being tungsten inert gas welded (TIG) applying low heat input, welding speed and using a more ductile filler alloy, specimens with microstructures consisting of spherical γ′ precipitate particles and dispersed discreet MC carbides along the grain boundaries, displayed a considerably improved weldability due to a strong reduction of the intergranular HAZ cracking associated with the liquation microfissuring phenomena.     

Evaluation of hardness and surface quality of different wood species as function of heat treatment

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat treatment on surface roughness and hardness of four wood species, namely black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), red oak (Quercus falcata Michx.), Southern pine (Pinus taeda L.) and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Samples were exposed to heat treatment schedules having two temperature and exposure levels of 120 °C and 190 °C for 3 and 6 h, respectively. Average hardness value of red oak samples exposed to a temperature of 190 °C for 6 h was 41.7% lower than that recorded before the heat treatment. Temperature of 190 °C produced 7.9% lower hardness values for black alder with the increased exposure time from 3 h to 6 h. No significant differences were found between same type of Southern pine and yellow poplar specimens before and after the heat treatment in terms of their hardness values. Among the four species considered in this study red oak having the most porous anatomical structure showed the roughest surface. An improvement in surface quality (R_a) with 7.46% with extending exposure time from 3 h to 6 h at the temperature level of 190 °C was noticed. However all four types of wood species kept in the oven at 190° for 6 h presented smoother surface quality. It was found that increased temperature from 120 °C to 190 °C for both exposure times showed significant differences from the surface quality of nontreated samples at 95% confidence level. The anatomical structure of samples was also observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and some damage of the cell wall was determined due to heat treatment. The findings of this study demonstrated that heat treatment resulted in adverse effect on hardness characteristics of the samples. It appears that strength losses can be limited through alternative modified heat treatment techniques. On the other hand, surface quality of the samples from all species was enhanced as a result of heat treatment. Therefore such heat treatment would be considered to improve surface quality of the sample for furniture applications where smooth surfaces are ideal adding potential value on wood material to be used more effectively in furniture manufacturing.     

Influence of forging deformation and heat treatment on microstructure of Ti-xNb-3Zr-2Ta alloys

Ti-xNb-3Zr-2Ta alloys (x = 33, 31, 29, 27, 25) (wt.%) were fabricated by vacuum non-consumable arc melting and hot forging. The hot-forging specimens were solid solution treated at 1053 K for 1.8 ks followed by water quenching (WQ) and air cooling (AC) respectively. The microstructure of hot-forging specimens with different deformation rate and solid solution treated at different temperatures was investigated. The result showed that a large amount of α" martensite appeared in the WQ group while only a little amount of α" phase could be found in the AC group. Moreover, for the WQ group, less niobium resulted in more diffraction peaks of α" phase in XRD profiles. This result suggested that the stability of β phase decreased with the decrease of Nb content. The microhardness of Ti-xNb-3Zr-2Ta (wt.%) alloys was improved significantly with the decreasing Nb content in both WQ group and AC group. Increasing deformation ratio could effectively refine β grains for Ti-25N-3Zr-2Ta (wt.%). Both acicular martensite and lath martensite were found in the transmission electron microscope observation of Ti-25Nb-3Zr-2Ta (wt.%) alloy. Martensitic internal twins were identified as well.     

Continuous cooling transformation behavior of Alloy 718

The transformation behavior of Alloy 718 is affected significantly by the cooling rate. The γ″-phase appears at cooling rates less than 20 °C/min and δ-phase appears at grain boundaries as well as the MC type carbides at cooling rates below 5 °C/min. The δ-phase nucleates and grows preferentially at grain boundaries, and less preferentially at the MC carbides. The size of the γ″ and δ-precipitates increases consistently with decreasing cooling rate for the given conditions. The hardness varies with the transformation behavior. A hardness peak was noticed for a cooling rate of 5 °C/min. The hardness peak corresponded to the maximum volume fraction of γ″ which in turn was strongly affected by the presence of the δ-phase.     

Processing and Microstructural Evolution of Superalloy Inconel 718 during Hot Tube Extrusion

The processing parameters of tube extrusion for superalloy Inconel 718 (IN 718), such as slug temperature, tools temperature, choice of lubricant, extrusion ratio and extrusion speed, were determined by experiment in this paper. An appropriate temperature range recommended for the slug is 1080～1120℃, and the temperature range recommended for the tools is 350～500℃. The microstructural evolution of superalloy IN 718 during tube extrusion was analyzed.With the increase of the deformation the cross crystal grains were slightly refined. While the vertical crystal grain is elongated evidently and the tensile strength increased along the axial rake. Glass lubricants have to be spread on the slug surface after being heated to 150～200℃, vegetable oil or animal oil can be used as the lubricant on the surface of the tools to reduce the extrusion force remarkably.     

Effect of cast and extruded stock on grain structure of EN AW 6082 alloy forgings

Abstract

There has been a rapid increase in the use of aluminium forgings in the automotive industry, where weight savings is a critical requirement for reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Extruded bar is the typical forging stock particularly in the manufacture of suspension components. There has been a great interest to replace the extruded forging stock with cast billets of the same diameter. The casting and extrusion routes for the manufacture of EN AW 6082 alloy forging stock were compared in the present work. The control arm produced via forging of the cast stock offers a very uniform grain structure and much superior surface quality with respect to its counterpart produced by the forging of the extruded stock owing to a much smaller grain structure at the surface of the forged component after the T6 heat treatment.     

热处理对Ti-2.5 Cu合金组织和性能的影响

Ti-2.5Cu合金是含有(w(B))2.5%Cu β共析型元素的近α型二元合金,具有可与纯钛相媲美的成型性和可焊性,有一定的热强性,使用温度可达到350℃.通过对Ti-2.5Cu合金板材进行不同退火和固溶时效制度处理后,测试其室温拉伸性能和HV值,并利用光学显微镜和透射电镜观察其组织形貌,对该合金热处理制度与组织、性能关系进行了深入、系统地研究.结果表明,Ti-2.5Cu合金最佳退火温度为(790±10)℃.为了缩短时效时间,可采用双重时效制度,一次时效400℃,8 h,空冷,二次时效475℃,8 h,达到最佳的强化效果,此时Ti2Cu粒子析出并长大到最佳尺寸100nm.     

Microstructural study and wear behavior of ductile iron surface alloyed by Inconel 617

In this research, microstructure and wear behavior of Ni-based alloy is discussed in detail. Using tungsten inert gas welding process, coating of nearly 1–2 mm thickness was deposited on ductile iron. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction analysis and electron probe microanalysis were used to characterize the microstructure of the surface alloyed layer. Micro-hardness and wear resistance of the alloyed layer was also studied. Results showed that the microstructure of the alloyed layer consisted of M₂₃C₆ carbides embedded in Ni-rich solid solution dendrites. The partial melted zone (PMZ) had eutectic ledeburit plus martensite microstructure, while the heat affected zone (HAZ) had only a martensite structure. It was also noticed that hardness and wear resistance of the alloyed layer was considerably higher than that of the substrate. Improvement of wear resistance is attributed to the solution strengthening effect of alloying elements and also the presence of hard carbides such as M₂₃C₆. Based on worn surface analysis, the dominant wear mechanisms of alloyed layer were found to be oxidation and delamination.     

热处理对各向同性热解炭材料微观结构和力学性能的影响

对化学气相沉积法（CVD）制备的各向同性热解炭材料在不同温度下进行热处理，利用金相显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜、X射线衍射和显微激光喇曼光谱等表征手段及显微硬度实验、三点弯曲实验，研究了材料的微观结构和力学性能与热处理温度之间的关系。结果表明，随着热处理温度的提高，各向同性热解炭材料的石墨片层间距缩小，石墨化程度增加，晶粒尺寸增大，同时材料中的孔隙结构也发生了较大的变化。材料的显微硬度和弹性模量随热处理温度的升高而降低，抗弯强度在1750℃和2400℃之间没有变化，在2600℃时有显著的增加。     

Microstructural Characterization and Hardness Behavior of a Biological Saxidomus purpuratus Shell

The microstructures of the Saxidomus purpuratus shell were observed.It was found that the inner and middle layers of the shell are composed of crossed lamellae,while the outer layer exhibits porous structures.With the characteristic structure of each layer,the hardness of inner layer with narrow domains in crossed lamellar structure is the highest,and that of middle layer with wide domains is lower,while the outer layer has the lowest hardness.The damage morphologies of the indentations change a lot,depending not only upon the magnitude of the indentation load,but also upon the orientation between the indentation direction and the crossed lamellae in the microstructure of the shell,which illustrates the anisotropy in mechanical properties of such shells.     

Microstructural Evolution of Ti-5.6Al-4.8Sn-2Zr-1Mo-0.35Si-0.7Nd Titanium Alloy with Carbon Additions

The effect of carbon addition on microstructural evolution was studied in a near-α titanium alloy(Ti-5.6Al-4.8Sn-2Zr-1Mo-0.35Si-0.7Nd). It was found that flake and ribbon titanium carbides with a NaCl crystal structure formed in the as-cast alloys with carbon additions of over 0.17 wt pct. Flake carbide particles are the product of eutectic transformation and precipitate from the high-temperature β phase. The ribbon carbide particles are primary phases formed prior to the nucleation of any metallic phases. The as-cast alloys with carbide precipitation after heat-treatment atβt-30℃ followed by water quenching showed the spheroidization of α lamellae and partial dissolution of carbide particles. After annealing at βt 15℃, carbide particles are mostly distributed at the grain boundary and spheroidized through mixed grain boundary plus bulk diffusions.     

Microstructural response on the cracking resistance of alloy 600

Precipitation of chromium rich carbides promotes the development of a Cr-depleted zone which in turn provided a weak path for the intergranular crack propagation. The role of low temperature anneals on the intergranular cracking resistance (IGC) of alloy 600 was investigated using modified wedge opening loading specimens heat treated at 930, 800 and 600 °C and exposed to high purity water pressurized with hydrogen at 300 °C. Mill annealing at 930 °C did lead to IGC susceptible microstructures. In this condition the alloy 600 exhibited the least crack growth rates (da / dt) of the order of 1.86 × 10^− 12 m/s and characterized the substantial work hardening ahead of the crack front. In contrast, annealing at 600 °C (HT600) resulted in increasing IGC susceptibilities. Under these conditions, crack growth rates, da / dt, as high as 7.10 × 10^− 10 m/s were found (HT600). Accordingly, significant interactions between the slip bands and the crack path lead to crack bifurcation into the slip planes and cavity formation.     

Characterization of cryogenic heat treated Vanadis 4 PM cold work tool steel

The amount of retained austenite in the quenched cold work tool steel sample is 17.7%, in the condition of sub-zero heat treated and double tempered samples following by quenching is 1.9% determined by XRD analysis. The types of carbides (MC, M₇C₃, M₂₃C₆) present in the structure was determined by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. The hardness of test samples were 865 HV(0.1) for quenched sample and 785 HV(0.1) forth sample subjected to sub-zero treatment and double tempered after the quenching.