RECRYSTALLIZATION OF A NICKEL-BASE SINGLE CRYSTAL SUPERALLOY UNDER COMPRESSION

Abstract

Recrystallization behavior of a nickel-base single crystal superalloy cold-deformed by compression has been investigated. The effects of plastic strain, annealing temperature and annealing time have been studied, and recrystallization diagram has been obtained. It has been found that a very strong dependence upon temperature is evident. For the single crystal superalloy with 4.5% strain, full recrystallization has been observed when annealing at 1300°C for 1h, surface recrystallization at 1250°C for 1h, cellular recrystallization at 1150°C for 1h and no recrystallization at 1100° for 1h. With the drop of temperature, the volume fraction of γ′ phase increases, which incrementally restricts recrystallized boundary migration. With the increasing of annealing time or strain, the sensitivity of recrystallization increases. Recrystallization tendency of standard- heat-treated superalloy is weaker than that of as-cast single crystal superalloy, because standard heat treatment reduces the microsegregation, lowers the eutectic amount and forms homogeneous γ1 phase distribution, which decrease preferential nucleation site of recrystallized grain and increase the resistance of boundary migration of recrystallization.