Effect of Grain Size Distribution on Processing Maps for Isothermal Compression of Inconel 718 Superalloy

Abstract

Cylindrical specimens of Inconel 718 alloys with three types of grain size distribution were used in the compression tests and processing maps were developed in 940-1040 °C and 0.001-10 s−1. The equiaxed fine grain is more effective on the dynamic softening behavior. For partial recrystallized microstructure, the peak efficiency of power dissipation occurs at the strain rate of 0.001 s−1, and the temperature range of 1000-1020 °C. In order to obtain homogeneous microstructure with fine grains, the partial recrystallized microstructure should be deformed at the low temperature and slow strain rates. The area fraction of instability domains decreases with strain increasing. The peak efficiency of power dissipation increases with average grain size decreasing. The efficiency of power dissipation will be stimulated by the precipitation of δ phase at slow strain rate of 0.001-0.01 s−1, and the initial deformed substructure at the strain rate of 0.1-1 s−1. Equiaxed fine grain is the optimum state for forging process and dynamic recrystallization. The grain size distribution has slight influence on the microstructure evolution at high temperatures.