Effects of minor Hf on high temperature stress rupture properties of high angle grain boundary in a Re-containing Ni-based bicrystal superalloy

Abstract

Two bicrystal specimens containing high angle grain boundary (about 20 degrees) were prepared by seed crystal method. The effect of Hf on the as-cast, heat-treated grain boundary microstructure, composition and stress rupture properties under 1100℃/100MPa was investigated in Ni-based single crystal superalloy contained Re with different contents of Hf (mass fraction:0%, 0.4%). The results show that Hf addition results in the increase of the volume fraction of (γ+γ') eutectic and MC along the grain boundary. The volume fraction of cellular recrystallization microstructure is significantly decreased after heat treatment with Hf addition. The transverse stress rupture life is observed to increase significantly under 1100℃/100MPa in the Hf-containing alloy. The stress rupture properties are closely related to the type, morphology, content and composition of the precipitation phase along grain boundary, but the obvious segregation of Hf is not observed. This study can be helpful for the understanding of Hf's role of strengthening mechanism in grain boundary in advanced Ni-based single crystal superalloy.

Keywords

• single crystal superalloy
• Hf
• grain boundary
• microstructure
• stress rupture property