skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Atomic-scale APFIM and TEM investigation of grain boundary microchemistry in Astroloy nickel base superalloys

Journal Article · · Acta Materialia
; ;  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. de Rouen, Mont Saint Aignan (France). Lab. de Microscopie Ionique et Electronique

Electron microscopy and atom-probes techniques, including 3D (three-dimensional) atom-probe, were applied to the investigation of grain-boundary (GB) microchemistry and interfacial segregation phenomena in nickel base superalloys, Astroloy. Diffraction patterns and EDX microanalyses exhibit the presence of intergranular M{sub 23}C{sub 6} chromium enriched carbides as well as intragranular TiC precipitates. Complex phases containing Zr, C and S were also observed. Three-dimensional images as provided by the tomographic atom-probe revealed the presence of a strong segregation of both boron and molybdenum at grain boundaries. Considerable chromium enrichment at {gamma}{prime}{minus}{gamma}{prime} grain boundaries and slight carbon segregation to GBs, whatever their chemical nature, were also detected. All these segregants are distributed in a continuous manner along the boundary over a width close to 0.5 nm. Experiments show that segregation occurs during cooling and more probably between 1,200 and 800 C. Boron, chromium and molybdenum GB enrichments are thought to be mainly controlled by an equilibrium segregation process. No segregation of zirconium was detected.

OSTI ID:
417844
Journal Information:
Acta Materialia, Vol. 44, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English