Enhancing microstructural stability and creep properties by Ta addition in Ni-based single crystal superalloys

Abstract

To investigate influences of Ta content on microstructural stability during thermal exposure at 900 °C (up to 3000 h) and creep properties at 980 °C/163 MPa in Ni-based SX superalloy, alloys with 7Ta, 8Ta and 9Ta (wt.%) were studied utilizing DSC, SEM, TEM, HR-XRD and APT. The results shows that Ta addition enhanced the partitioning behavior of alloying elements. Besides, lattice misfit was controlled by both alloy composition and temperature. Ta addition increased absolute misfit both room temperature and 980 °C. The difference was that the γ/γ′ lattice misfit changed from positive to negative at room temperature. The γ′ coarsening indicated that Ta addition reduced the effective diffusion coefficient and exacerbated W segregation at γ/γ′ interface, which was beneficial to improve the microstructural stability. Merging of several adjacent γ′ precipitates in preferred direction was observed to be delayed with increasing Ta content, which occurred at 500 h for 7Ta alloy, 800 h for 8Ta alloy and 1000 h for 9Ta alloy, respectively. Ta addition affected the diffusion kinetics and greatly prolonged the steady creep duration, and then resulted in longer creep rupture life. It was discussed based on the γ matrix channels, γ′ raft thickness, the perfection degree of γ′ rafts, residual γ′ precipitates, interfacial dislocation networks and solid solution strengthening.