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Phase Transformations During Homogenization of Inconel 718 Alloy Fabricated by Suction Casting and Laser Powder Bed Fusion: A CALPHAD Case Study Evaluating Different Homogenization Models

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Abstract

Estimating the required homogenization time during post-heat treatment after alloy fabrication is critical for both casting and additive manufacturing (AM). In this work, three CALPHAD-based modeling approaches to estimate the homogenization time in order to dissolve the Laves_C14 phase into γ matrix are evaluated for Inconel 718 alloys made by suction casting and laser powder bed fusion. These values are compared with the homogenization at 1180 °C for different durations. The compositions of the γ matrix obtained from experiments are used as inputs for the first model. The first model involves single-phase diffusion simulations using the diffusion module (DICTRA) implemented in the Thermo-Calc software package with composition profile for the Laves_C14 phase either determined from experiments or calculated by the lever rule. The second model uses Scheil simulations for predicting the segregation profiles, which are used as inputs for single-phase simulations. In the third model, moving boundary simulations using DICTRA are performed using the composition of Laves_C14 phase from the lever rule. The homogenization time determined using the first model matches reasonably well with the experimental observation for the AM alloy. The second model is imprecise as the segregation from Scheil calculation is not reliable for AM alloy. The last model is inaccurate due to lack of mobility data for atomic diffusion in the Laves_C14 phase. The predicted homogenization times for the cast alloys using these models do not match with the experimental values. This necessitates the need for determining the mobilities for Laves_C14 phase for improving the accuracy of DICTRA simulations to estimate the homogenization time.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant Number: NNX17AD11G) for carrying out this research work. Authors acknowledge the support of the software and databases from the Thermo-Calc Software AB through the ASM Materials Genome Toolkit Award. We thank Dr. Qing Chen at the Thermo-Calc Software AB, Sweden, for the valuable discussion. The authors also thank Miss. Yinxuan Li for her assistance in sample preparation through the Mascaro Centre for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) summer internship program.

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  1. Soumya Sridar and Yunhao Zhao have contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Physical Metallurgy and Materials Design Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Soumya Sridar, Yunhao Zhao & Wei Xiong

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This invited article is part of a special topical focus in the Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion on Additive Manufacturing. The issue was organized by Dr. Wei Xiong, University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Greta Lindwall, KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

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Sridar, S., Zhao, Y. & Xiong, W. Phase Transformations During Homogenization of Inconel 718 Alloy Fabricated by Suction Casting and Laser Powder Bed Fusion: A CALPHAD Case Study Evaluating Different Homogenization Models. J. Phase Equilib. Diffus. 42, 28–41 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11669-021-00871-3

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