Employing various metallography methods at high temperature alloy fatigue tests evaluation

Abstract

. Microstructures of superalloys have dramatically changed throughout the years, as modern technology of its casting or forging has become more sophisticated. The first superalloys have polyedric microstructure consisting of gamma solid solution, some fraction of gamma prime and of course grain boundaries. As demands on higher performance of aero jet engine increases, the changes in superalloys microstructure become more significant. A further step in microstructure evolution was directionally solidified alloys with columnar gamma prime particles. The latest microstructures are mostly monocrystalline, oriented in [001] direction of FCC gamma matrix. All microstructure changes bring necessity of proper preparation and evaluation of microstructure. Except for the already mentioned structures have gamma double prime and various carbides form can be seen. These structural parameters have mainly positive influence on important mechanical properties of superalloys. The paper deals with a microstructural evaluation of both groups of alloys – cast and as well as wrought. Microstructure evaluation helps to describe mechanism at various loading and failure of progressive superalloys. Such an example where microstructure evaluation is employed is fractography of failure surfaces after fatigue tests, which are examples of metallography evaluation described in this paper as a secondary objective.

Keywords

• Ni-base casting and wrought alloys
• gamma prime
• gamma double prime
• gamma solid solution
• light microscopy
• scanning electron microscopy (SEM)