Measurement of the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in a nickel aluminide coating by a miniaturised disc bending test technique

Abstract

Nickel aluminide coatings are often employed to enhance the corrosion and oxidation resistance of nickel base gas turbine blades and vanes, as the high near-surface content of Al increases the ability to form an Al 2O 3 protective scale. The ductility of the coating depends on the type of aluminisation process and Ni-base material. In order to prevent coating degradation during service it is important to assess the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) in ductility of the coating. To determine the DBTT a miniaturised disc bending test (MDBT) technique is used, where a biaxial tensile stress is applied to a disc specimen. The DBTT of a NiAl coating, applied by a high-activity aluminium pack cementation process to a polycrystalline Ni-base superalloy (IN738 LC), was evaluated using the MDBT technique between room temperature (RT) and 860 °C. Test results gave a DBTT in biaxial ductility of the coating of approximately 760 °C. Above 760 °C, a significant increase in ductility was noted. Fractographic examination showed that the coating fractures in a mainly transgranular mode at RT but in a predominately intergranular mode at elevated temperatures, even at temperatures above DBTT.