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Title: Influence of heat treatment on microstructure and hot crack susceptibility of laser-drilled turbine blades made from Rene 80

Journal Article · · Materials Characterization
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3]
  1. Siemens AG Energy Section, PGBE21, 45473 Muelheim/Ruhr (Germany)
  2. Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), 12200 Berlin (Germany)
  3. Siemens Power Generation, PE 3472, 10548 Berlin (Germany)

Turbine components from conventionally cast nickel-base alloy Rene 80 show different hot cracking susceptibilities depending on their heat treatment conditions leading to slightly different microstructures. Electron probe micro-analysis, focused ion beam technique and analytical transmission electron microscopy were applied to reveal and identify grain boundary precipitates and the {gamma}-{gamma}'-microstructure. The distribution of borides along grain boundaries was evaluated statistically by quantitative metallography. The following features could be correlated with an increase of cracking susceptibility: i) Increasing grain size, ii) increasing fraction of grain boundaries with densely spaced borides, iii) lack of secondary {gamma}'-particles in matrix channels between the coarse cuboidal {gamma}'-precipitates. The latter feature seems to be responsible for linking-up of cracked grain boundary precipitates which occurred as an additional cracking mechanism after one heat treatment, whereas decohesion at the boride-matrix-interface in the heat affected zone of laser-drilled holes was observed for both heat treatments.

OSTI ID:
21137476
Journal Information:
Materials Characterization, Vol. 59, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2008.01.021; PII: S1044-5803(08)00062-4; Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English