An Investigation of the Creep of Ni3Al(B, Hf) Single Crystals at Intermediate Temperatures

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study was undertaken to characterize the intermediate temperature creep properties of Ni3Al. Itfocuses on the mechanisms controlling creep deformation and their relationship to the anomalous yielding behavior of this alloy. Constant stress creep tests were conducted for temperatures between 713–973 K, and the following observations were made. The creep curves exhibited two distinct regions. Primary creep was followed by inverse creep. Specimens cooled under constant stress strained an additional 20% during cooling. Temperature drop experiments indicate that Ni3Al is weakened by the addition of creep deformation.Glide on the primary octahedral plane appears to be exhausted during primary creep. Slip trace and TEM studies indicate that inverse creep is controlled by slip on the cube cross slip plane and a secondary octahedral plane. Primary octahedral slip is observed in the specimens that are cooled and deformed under constant stress.