Effect of Carbon on the Microstructures and Stress Rupture Properties of a Polycrystalline Ni-Based Superalloy

doi:10.1007/s40195-024-01769-y

Abstract

Abstract:

The effect of carbon content on the microstructures and stress rupture properties of a newly developed polycrystalline Ni-based superalloy with high Cr content has been studied. It was observed that both grain size and the number of carbides increased with an increase in carbon content. After heat treatment, granular M₂₃C₆ carbides were dispersed around MC carbides along grain boundaries and inside grains. The quantity of granular M₂₃C₆ carbides increased while their sizes decreased. These findings can be verified with the results of thermodynamic calculation and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The stress rupture times (975 ℃/225 MPa) increased from 13.3 to 25.5 h with the carbon content increased from 0.1 to 0.2 wt.%. The improvement can be attributed to two primary factors. Firstly, grain boundary is typically weak region during deformation process and the grain size increased as carbon content increased in the alloy. Secondly, carbides act as hindrances to impede dislocation movement, leading to dislocation entanglement. As carbon content rose, the quantity of carbides in interdendritic regions and grain boundaries increased, providing a certain degree of strengthening effect and resulting in a longer stress rupture time.

Key words: Ni-based superalloy, Microstructure, Stress rupture property, Carbon, Carbide

Han Wang, Shijie Sun, Naicheng Sheng, Guichen Hou, Jinguo Li, Yizhou Zhou, Xiaofeng Sun. Effect of Carbon on the Microstructures and Stress Rupture Properties of a Polycrystalline Ni-Based Superalloy[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(1): 151-163.

Figures/Tables 17

Table 1 Chemical compositions of three experimental alloys (wt.%)

Alloy	C	Cr	Co	Al	W	Ta	Hf	B	Zr	Ni
0.10C	0.10	13.5	8.0	6.6	4.0	5.0	0.1	0.015	0.015	Bal.
0.15C	0.15	13.5	8.0	6.6	4.0	5.0	0.1	0.015	0.015	Bal.
0.20C	0.20	13.5	8.0	6.6	4.0	5.0	0.1	0.015	0.015	Bal.

Fig. 1 Effects of carbon content on a equilibrium phases characteristic temperature and b equilibrium phase fraction at 975 ℃

Fig. 2 Equilibrium phases weight fractions for Alloy-0.10C and Alloy-0.20C in 600-1400 ℃: a global phase diagram, b detailed view

Fig. 3 DSC heating curves of three alloys with various C contents

Fig. 4 OM images: a Alloy-0.10C, b Alloy-0.15C, c Alloy-0.20C

Fig. 5 BSE and SEM images in as-cast alloys: a, d, g Alloy-0.10C, b, e, h Alloy-0.15C, c, f, i Alloy-0.20C

Fig. 6 Area fractions of carbides and average diameters of γ′ phases in as-cast alloys

Fig. 7 Backscatter image of as-cast Alloy-0.15C a, elemental mappings of B b, Cr c, Ta d, Hf e and C f

Fig. 8 SEM and BSE images in heat-treated alloys: a, d, g Alloy-0.10C, b, e, h Alloy-0.15C, c, f, i Alloy-0.20C, j, k, l carbides TEM images and SAED patterns in heat-treated Alloy-0.20C

Fig. 9 Area fractions of carbides and average diameters of γ′ phases in the heat-treated alloys

Fig. 10 Backscatter image of heat-treated Alloy-0.15C a, elemental mappings of B b, Ta c, Hf d, Al e, Ni f, C g and Cr h

Fig. 11 SEM images in stepwise heat treatment Alloy-0.10C alloys: a cast, b homogenization treatment, c one-stage aging treatment, d two-stage aging treatment

Fig. 12 Stress rupture time of the heat-treated alloys

Fig. 13 Fracture surfaces of a, d Alloy-0.10C, b, e Alloy-0.15C and c, f Alloy-0.20C after stress rupture tests

Fig. 14 Longitudinal microstructures of a, d Alloy-0.10C, b, e Alloy-0.15C c, f Alloy-0.20C after stress rupture tests

Fig. 15 a-c Euler images and d-f local misorientation images of a, d Alloy-0.10C, b, e Alloy-0.15C c, f Alloy-0.20C after stress rupture tests analyzed by EBSD

Fig. 16 TEM images of a Alloy-0.10C, b Alloy-0.15C, c Alloy-0.20C after stress rupture tests at 975 ℃ and 225 MPa

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