Numerical simulation of the liquating behavior of niobium carbide in heat-affected-zone during welding of a superalloy

Abstract

In order to predict the propensity of a superalloy to heat-affected-zone (HAZ) liquation cracking, Visual FORTRAN procedures were developed based on a heat transfer and mass diffusion model and the constitutional liquation of precipitate (NbC) at grain boundaries was simulated numerically. The results show that with the increase in the rate of welding thermal cycle, the solid dissolution of precipitate prior to liquation decreases and the thickness of liquid film produced by constitutional liquation increases. Higher heating rate inhibits the further melting of adjacent matrix and the solidification of liquid by liquid-to-γ mode in the subsequent thermal cycle. As a result, the residual liquid film still maintains a great thickness at the moment when temperature is down to the eutectic point, which will promote HAZ micro-fissuring. Finally, hot ductility tests on a low-expansion superalloy were performed to verify indirectly the conclusions drawn from the numerical simulation.