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An evaluation of optimized grain boundary character distribution in hot-worked GH4698 superalloy

  • Metals & corrosion
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Abstract

Microstructures, especially grain boundary character distributions (GBCDs), are characterized in specimens of GH4698 alloy submitted to hot compression and subsequent solution annealing. This investigation quantifies and provides a detailed description of the generation and growth of twins during annealing to evaluate the applicability of optimized GBCDs in hot-worked Ni-based superalloys. The grain size and number of twin boundaries depend on the processing parameters. Significant optimization of the GBCD can be achieved by a coupled process of hot compression conducted at small strain (ε = 0.1) and prolonged solution treatment at low temperature (T = 1070 °C, t = 60 min), as shown by the high values of NAve (the average number of Σ3 grain boundaries in a single grain) and R (the ratio of the area-weighted average grain size without considering twins as the boundary with respect to the grain size with twins). The key to optimizing the GBCD is to activate strain-induced boundary migration (SIBM) while inhibiting dynamic recrystallization and recrystallization, thus resulting in the formation of microstructures with a high proportion (74%) of Σ3n (n = 1, 2, 3) boundaries. The SIBM process includes the formation of new Σ3 boundaries through accidental growth mechanisms behind the migrated grain boundaries and interfacial reactions between Σ3n boundaries to interrupt the connectivity of random high-angle grain boundary networks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, Hebei, China

    Haizhu Li, Xingang Liu, Shuaijie Wang, Wenwen Zhang & Yujiao Ke

  2. Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan

    Ying Guo

  3. High Temperature Materials Research Division, Central Iron & Steel Research Institute, Beijing, 100081, China

    Heyong Qin & Qiang Tian

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  1. Haizhu Li
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Correspondence to Xingang Liu.

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Li, H., Liu, X., Wang, S. et al. An evaluation of optimized grain boundary character distribution in hot-worked GH4698 superalloy. J Mater Sci 58, 1382–1402 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-08077-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-08077-9

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