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Solidification, structure, and mechanical and physical properties of controlled eutectic alloys
Collection of three reports describes studies of directional solidification of MnBi/Bi eutectic alloy. Two of the reports, "Influence of Convection on Lamellar Spacing of Eutectics" and "Influence of Convection on Eutectic Microstructure," establish theoretical foundation for remaining document. Reports seek to quantify effect of convection on concentration field of growing lamellar eutectic. Remaining report, "Study of Eutectic Formation," begins by continuing theoretical developments. New technique under development by one of the authors helps to reveal three-dimensional microstructures of alloys.
The lamellar directionally solidified nickel-base eutectic alloy gamma/gamma prime-delta has potential as an advanced turbine blade material. The microstructural stability of this alloy was investigated. Specimens were plastically deformed by uniform compression or Brinell indentation, then annealed between 705 and 1120 C. Microstructural changes observed after annealing included gamma prime coarsening, pinch-off and spheroidization of delta lamellae, and the appearance of an unidentified blocky phase in surface layers. All but the first of these was localized in severely deformed regions, suggesting that microstructural instability is not a serious problem in the use of this alloy.
Fatigue characteristics of unidirectionally solidified Al-intermetallic aluminum nickel eutectic alloy consisting of discontinuous Al-Ni intermettalic whiskers in Al matrix
Solidification, structure, and properties of eutectic alloys including consideration of properties control
Mechanical property characterization tests of a directionally solidified Ni-20 percent Cb-2.5 percent Al-6 percent Cr cellular eutectic turbine blade alloy demonstrated excellent long time creep stability and indicated intermediate temperature transverse tensile ductility and shear strength to be somewhat low for turbine blade applications. Alloy and structural optimization significantly improves these off-axis properties with no loss of longitudinal creep strength or stability. The optimized alloy-structure combination is a carbon modified Ni-20.1 percent Cb-2.5 percent Al-6.0 percent Cr-0.06 percent C composition processed under conditions producing plane front solidification and a fully-lamellar microstructure. With current processing technology, this alloy exhibits a creep-rupture advantage of 39 C over the best available nickel base superalloy, directionally solidified MAR M200+ Hf. While improved by about 20 percent, shear strength of the optimized alloy remains well below typical superalloy values.
Ambient temperature fatigue and fracture, elevated temperature, and physical property research on highly anisotropic binary eutectic alloys
Eutectic superalloys are being developed at several laboratories for application as aircraft gas turbine airfoils. One such alloy was subjected to several heat treatments to determine if its mechanical properties could be improved. It was found that by partially dissolving the alloy at 1210 C and then aging at 900 C the tensile strength can be increased about 12 percent at temperatures up to 900 C. At 1040 C no change in tensile strength was observed. Times to rupture were measured between 760 and 1040 C and were essentially the same or greater than for as-grown material. Tensile and rupture ductility of the alloy are reduced by heat treatment. Photographs of the microstructure are shown.
Eutectic superalloys are being developed at several laboratories for application as aircraft gas turbine airfoils. One such alloy gamma/gamma prime + delta was subjected to several heat treatments to determine if its mechanical properties could be improved. It was found that by partially dissolving the gamma prime at 1210 C and then aging at 900 C, the tensile strength can be increased about 12 per cent at temperatures up to 900 C. At 1040 C, no change in tensile strength was observed. Times to rupture were measured between 760 and 1040 C and were essentially the same or greater than for as-grown material. Tensile and rupture ductility of the alloy were reduced by heat treatment.
Microstructural changes due to thermal treatments of a directionally solidified gamma/gamma'-delta eutectic alloy were investigated. Aging treatments of 8 to 48 hours and ranging from 750 to 1120 C were given to the alloy in both its as directionally solidified condition and after gamma' solutioning. Aging resulted in gamma' coarsening gamma precipitates in delta, and delta and gamma'' precipitates in delta. The tensile strength was increased about 12 percent at temperatures up to 900 C by a heat treatment. Times to rupture were essentially the same or greater than for as directionally solidified material. Tensile and rupture ductility in the growth direction of the alloy were reduced by the heat treatment.
In an attempt to improve their longitudinal shear strength, several directionally solidified eutectic alloy compositions with minor element modifications were pact, carburized, and heat treated to provide selective carbide precipitation at the cell and grain boundaries. The directionally solidified Ni-17.8 Nb-6Cr-2.5Al-3Ta (weight percent) alloy was selected for the shear strength evaluation because it showed the shallowest delta-denuded zone at the carburized surface. The carburization-carbide precipitation treatment, however, did not appear to improve the longitudinal shear strength of the alloy.
Crystal microstructure and mechanical properties of unidirectionally solidified Ni-Ni-Nb intermetallic eutectic alloy at high temperature, examining deformation and fracture modes
The Ni-33 (at. %)Al-3lCr-3Mo eutectic alloy was directionally-solidified (DS) at different rates, V(sub I), varying between 2.5 to 508 mm/ h. Detailed qualitative and quantitative metallographic and chemical analyses were conducted on the directionally-solidified rods. The microstructures consisted of eutectic colonies with parallel lamellar NiAl/(Cr,Mo) plates for solidification rates at and below 12.7 mm/ h. Cellular eutectic microstructures were observed at higher solidification rates, where the plates exhibited a radial pattern. The microstructures were demonstrated to be fairly uniform throughout a 100 mm length of the DS zone by quantitative metallography. The average cell size, bar-d, decreased with increasing growth rate to a value of 125 microns at 508 mm/ h according to the relation bar-d (microns) approx. = 465 V(sup -0.22, sub I), where V(sub I) is in mm/ h. Both the average NiAl plate thickness, bar-Delta(sub NiAl), and the interlamellar spacing, bar-lambda, were observed to be constant for V(sub I) less than or = 50.8 mm/ h but decreased with increasing growth rate above this value as 0.93 bar-Delta(sub NiAl)(microns) = 61.2 V(sup -0.93, sub I) and bar-lambda (microns) = 47.7 V(sup -0.64, sub I), respectively. The present results are detailed on a microstructural map. Keywords Optical microscopy, microstructure, compounds intermetallic, directional solidification
Cylindrical bars (1.2 cm diameter) of Fe-13.6Cr-3.7Al-9TaC (wt %) eutectic alloy were directionally solidified in a modified Bridgman type furnace at 1 cm/h. The alloy microstructure consisted of aligned TaC fibers imbedded in a bcc Fe-Cr-Al matrix. Specimens of the alloy were thermally cycled from 1100 to 425 C in a burner rig. The effects of 1800 thermal cycles on the microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a zig-zag shape of TaC fibers aligned parallel to the growth direction. The mechanism of carbide solution and reprecipitation on the (111) easy growth planes, suggested previously to account for the development of irregular serrations in Co-Cr-Ni matrix alloys, is believed to be responsible for these zig-zag surfaces.
Temperature effects on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of lamellar Ni-nickel titanide intermetallic eutectic alloy showing dependence on intermetallic constituent
Solidification, structure, and properties of nickel and niobium eutectic alloys
Hot-press diffusion welding parameters were developed for a directionally solidified, gamma/gamma prime-delta eutectic alloy. Based on metallography, a good diffusion weld was achieved at 1100 C under 34.5 MPa (5 ksi) pressure for 1 hour. In addition, a dissimilar metal weld between gamma/gamma prime-delta and IN-100 was successfully made at 1100 C under 20.7 MPa (3 ksi) pressure for 1 hour.
The effect of solute gradient induced convection during vertical solidification on the macrosegregation of Pb-rich Pb-Sn off-eutectic alloys is determined experimentally as a function of composition and growth rate. In many cases macrosegregation is sufficient to prevent the plane front solidification of the alloy. The transition from dendritic to composite structure is found to occur when the composition of the solid is close enough to the eutectic composition to satisfy a stability criterion based on the ratio of the liquid temperature gradient to growth rate. A vertical or horizontal magnetic field of 0.1 T (1 kilogauss) does not reduce macrosegregation, but downward solidification (liquid below solid) virtually eliminates macrosegregation in small (3 mm) diameter samples.