Producing Ni-base superalloys single crystal by selective electron beam melting

Abstract

The possibility to produce Ni-base superalloy single crystals by selective electron beam melting (S-EBM) is demonstrated. The production of single crystals specimens was achieved by a tight control of the processing conditions without requiring a grain selector or a crystal seed. The melting parameters are controlled so as to promote columnar grains and intensify the competitive grain growth.