Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract
The usefulness of various etching methods for revealing the structure of MAR-M247 nickelbase superalloy and image
acquisition methods were analyzed from a desire to estimate primary carbides quantitatively. The analysis was carried out on
images registered using light and scanning electron microscopes. The analyzed images contained a complete range of primary
carbides occurring in the matrix and on the grain boundaries of MAR-M247 alloy.
2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Carbide; Nickelbase superalloy
1. Introduction
Carbides and phase fulfill an important role in
precipitation strengthening of nickelbase superalloys.
Addition of carbon in amounts from 0.05% to 0.2%
and carbide-forming elements enables precipitation of
M23C6, MC and M6C type carbides in these alloys.
These carbides are not stable phases in the structure of
nickelbase superalloys. Under the influence of service temperature and time they may undergo transformations changing their type, size and morphology,
which affect the properties of these alloys at high
temperatures [1,2].
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2. Material
MAR-M247 superalloy is a polycrystalline nickel
base heat-resisting alloy (chemical composition in
Table 1). During the past two decades, this alloy
has been widely employed in fabricating advanced
turbine blades and rotating parts in the aerospace
industry because of its excellent characteristics, including good castability, strength, as well as superior
creep and hot corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures [4,5].
In particular, the carbide characteristics can play a
crucial role in determining the high-temperature properties of MAR-M247 superalloy. The behavior of a
carbide in superalloys is complex. In general, discrete
carbides precipitating at grain boundaries (GBs) can
inhibit GB sliding and improve the strength and creep
resistance of superalloys at elevated temperatures. Conversely, the coarse or script-like MC primary carbides
that exist within the grain interior or at GBs are
regarded as a major factor decreasing ductility during
creep and tensile tests. Because of the high brittleness of
MC carbides, they may act as crack initiation sites and
propagation paths [6].
3. Experimental procedure
The procedure of metallographic specimen preparation was conducted according to the recommendations of the Buehler expert system [7] for nickelbase
superalloys. Recent basic approaches to work out
etching methods enabling selection of primary carbides in images obtained using light and scanning
Table 1
Chemical composition of the nickelbase MAR-M247 alloy
Elements content [wt.%]
MAR-M247
Cr
Ni
Co
Mo
Ta
Ti
Al
Fe
Others
8.25
59.0
10.0
0.7
10.0
3.0
1.0
4.5
b0.5
0.15
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Fig. 1. Primary carbides visible on specimens from MAR-M247 alloy: a) unetched; b) etched (electrolytic etching: 10% H3PO4; 3 V); c) etched (100
ml HNO3 and 1 ml HF); d) etched (50 ml of lactic acid, 30 ml of nitric acid, 2 ml HF). Light microscope, bright field.
Fig. 2. Initial images of carbides (a, c) of specimen etched in 50 ml of nitric acid (65%) and 50 ml of icy acetic acid solution and images with detected
carbide phase (b, d).
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Fig. 4. SE and BSE images of the same area of an unetched specimen of MAR-M247 alloy.
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Fig. 5. SE images of MAR-M247 specimens etched in four different reagents: m (electrolytic etching: 50 ml of lactic acid, 30 ml of nitric acid, 2 ml
HF; 2V); l (electrolytic etching: 2 g CrO3, 100 ml of water; 3V); g (10 g CuSO4, 50 ml H2O, 50 ml C2H5OH, 50 ml HCl); and o (95 ml HCl, 2 ml
HNO3, 3 ml H2O2).
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Fig. 6. Detection of carbides on SE images (c, g) and BSE images (a, e) presenting the structure of MAR-M247 alloy after etching in d
etchant.
5. Conclusions
In the structure of the MAR-M247 alloy in the ascast state several types of primary MC carbide as well
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