A fundamental study of deformation mechanisms in advanced polycrystalline nickel-base superalloys
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
As one of the most important classes of high-temperature structural materials, nickel-base superalloys exhibit unique high temperature properties, which make them the first choice in demanding applications such as the hot sections of turbine engines for both aircraft and power-generation applications. Nickel-base superalloys rely upon a combination of matrix strengthening and precipitation hardening to give outstanding high-temperature mechanical properties. This research project will study the effect of gamma prim precipitate distribution on the deformation mechanisms in advanced gamma (matrix)/gamma prime (precipitates) nickel-base superalloys for high temperature applications. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining detailed metallurgical studies, in-situ mechanical testing on neutron and high-energy x-ray synchrotron diffraction beam lines and mathematical modelling. Instead of studying macroscopic mechanical properties as a function of microstructure, our approach will allow us to study directly strengthening mechanisms as a function of microstructure. In advanced superalloys, fundamental studies have often been limited by the complexity of the microstructure. We will overcome this by first studying simplified model microstructures and using these to validate and tune advanced models, before moving on to commercially more relevant but also more complex microstructures.This project will provide an improved fundamental understanding of the interplay of gamma prim-distribution and deformation mechanisms, which is key to harnessing the full potential of these new high temperature alloys. Although a number of new gamma prim strengthened polycrystalline nickel-base alloys have recently emerged from worldwide development programs, the optimisation of the mechanical properties of these alloys through thermomechanical processing has been, to date, strongly empirical. This new understanding will make it possible to identify optimum microstructures, which will not only help definite the ideal thermomechanical processing routes for newly developed alloys, but also illuminate future alloy development.
Publications
Connor L
(2014)
The Effect of Cooling Rate from Solution on the Lattice Misfit During Isothermal Aging of a Ni-Base Superalloy
in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A
Chen Y
(2014)
On the diffusion mechanisms of fine-scale ? ' in an advanced Ni-based superalloy
in MATEC Web of Conferences
Chen YQ
(2014)
Measurement of size-dependent composition variations for gamma prime (?') precipitates in an advanced nickel-based superalloy.
in Ultramicroscopy
Francis E
(2014)
High-temperature deformation mechanisms in a polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy studied by neutron diffraction and electron microscopy
in Acta Materialia
Grant B
(2013)
The effect of ?' size and alloy chemistry on dynamic strain ageing in advanced polycrystalline nickel base superalloys
in Materials Science and Engineering: A
Grant B
(2012)
Deformation behaviour of an advanced nickel-based superalloy studied by neutron diffraction and electron microscopy
in Acta Materialia
Grant B
(2011)
The Effect of Lattice Misfit on Deformation Mechanisms at High Temperature
in Advanced Materials Research
Grant B
(2009)
High-temperature strain field measurement using digital image correlation
in The Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design
Description | The key discovery of this grant was that deformation mechanisms in nickel-base superalloys can be distinguished using neutron diffraction during in-situ loading. |
Exploitation Route | The experimental data produced can be used for developing crystal plasticity models. |
Sectors | Energy Transport |
Description | We continue to work with companies such as Rolls-Royce to improve our understanding of high temperature materials performance in order to provide guidance for future alloy development. |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Rolls-Royce Plc |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Top up funding for CDT PhD student |
Organisation | Rolls Royce Group Plc |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Rolls-Royce plc |
Organisation | Rolls Royce Group Plc |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2007 |