Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Niobium enrichment and environmental enhancement of creep crack growth in nickel-base superalloys

Journal Article · · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
  2. Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME (United States). Lab. for Surface Science and Technology

In this paper, the possible role of niobium in the environmental enhancement of creep crack growth in nickel-base superalloys is further examined. The examination included (1) surface enrichment of Nb in a commercial Inconel 718; (2) a source of niobium and its interaction with oxygen; (3) preferential oxidation of Nb at the crack tip, and (4) correlations between environmental sensitivity and niobium concentration of nickel-base superalloys from the literature. The role of niobium was suggested by recent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies. The XPS studies show a significant increase in the concentration of niobium on the (001) surface of an Inconel 718 single crystal after heating at temperatures above 775 K. Considerable segregation of niobium was also found on the grain boundaries of a thermally aged commercial (polycrystalline) Inconel 718. The CCGR data showed significant enhancement by oxygen and water vapor at temperatures of 800--975 K where niobium enrichment occurred.

OSTI ID:
55423
Journal Information:
Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia, Journal Name: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 32; ISSN 0956-716X; ISSN SCRMEX
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Environmentally enhanced crack growth in nickel-based alloys at elevated temperatures
Conference · Tue Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1997 · OSTI ID:624247

Surface enrichment and grain boundary segregation of niobium in Inconel 718 single- and poly-crystals
Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States) · OSTI ID:7277922

Grain boundary niobium carbides in Inconel 718
Journal Article · Sun Dec 14 23:00:00 EST 1997 · Scripta Materialia · OSTI ID:586023