Effect of Hafnium on the Microstructure and Creep Property of a Hot Corrosion Resistant Superalloy

Abstract

The effects of the selective addition of Hafnium (Hf) on the grain boundary, phase, carbides and creep properties of experimented nickel superalloy after standard heat treatment and long-term exposure were investigated. Predicted by the Bayesian neural network, the creep life is prolonged with Hf content of 0-0.6 mass%, which is more effective at low stresses. The decrease of creep life of Hf free alloy after long term exposure was pronounced. Comparative study showed that the mainly small, coherent, blocky and closely spaced MC(2)and M23C6carbides precipitated on the grain boundaries in the 0.4wt% Hf contained alloy, and that relatively larger, incoherent MC(1)carbides precipitated on the grain boundaries in the Hf free alloy. During long term thermal exposure, fine discrete M23C6carbides decomposed from primary carbide, inducing a layer along the grain boundary, and the coarsening of grain boundary in Hf free alloy is more pronounced. At high stresses, the Hf-free alloy exhibited a stronger tendency of rafting than the 0.4Hf alloy, while the tendency of appearance of rafting was very similar at low stresses. However, Hf can render the alloy prone to the formation of σ phase, according to D-electrons method. Thus, the Hf content needs to be controlled to a suitable level.