Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Weldability and liquation cracking behavior of ZhS6U superalloy during electron-beam welding

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The weldability of the ZhS6U nickel-based superalloy, which is prone to solidification cracking during electron-beam welding (EBW) repair processes, was investigated. The effects of two different pre-weld heat-treatment cycles on the final microstructure before and after welding were examined. Welds were made on flat coupons using an EBW machine, and the two heat-treatment cycles were designed to reduce γ′ liquation before welding. Microstructural features were also examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the change in the morphology and size of the γ′ precipitates in the pre-weld heat-treatment cycles changed the ability of the superalloy to release the tensile stresses caused by the matrix phase cooling after EBW. The high hardness in the welded coupons subjected to the first heat-treatment cycle resulted in greater resistance to stress release by the base alloy, and the concentration of stress in the base metal caused liquation cracks in the heat-affected zone and solidification cracks in the weld area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.A. Godovanets, B.A. Prusakov, and I.I. Lysenko, Regenerative heat treatment of blades of high-temperature nickel alloys, Met. Sci. Heat. Treat., 38(1996), No. 5, p. 202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M.F. Chiang and C. Chen, Induction-assisted laser welding of IN-738 nickel-base superalloy, Mater. Chem. Phys., 114(2009), No. 1, p. 415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A.T. Egbewande, R.A. Buckson, and O.A. Ojo, Analysis of laser beam weldability of Inconel 738 superalloy, Mater. Charact., 61(2010), No. 5, p. 569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Y. Danis, C. Arvieu, E. Lacoste, T. Larrouy, and J.M. Quenisset, An investigation on thermal, metallurgical and mechanical states in weld cracking of Inconel 738LC superalloy, Mater. Des., 31(2010), No. 1, p. 402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Montazeri and F.M. Ghaini, The liquation cracking behavior of IN738LC superalloy during low power Nd:YAG pulsed laser welding, Mater. Charact., 67(2012), p. 65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Prager, Welding of Precipitation-Hardening Nickel-Base Alloys, Welding Research Council, New York, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  7. H.A. Shahsavari, A.H. Kokabi, and S. Nategh, Effect of preweld microstructure on HAZ liquation cracking of Rene 80 superalloy, Mater. Sci. Technol., 23(2007), No. 5, p. 547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. O.A. Ojo, Intergranular liquation cracking in heat affected zone of a welded nickel based superalloy in as cast condition, Mater. Sci. Technol., 23(2007), No. 10, p. 1149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. T. Böllinghaus, H. Herold, C.E. Cross, and J.C. Lippold, Hot Cracking Phenomena in Welds II, Springer, Berlin, 2008.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Qian and J.C. Lippold, The effect of annealing twin-generated special grain boundaries on HAZ liquation cracking of nickel-base superalloys, Acta Mater., 51(2003), No. 12, p. 3351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. O.A. Ojo, N.L. Richards, and M.C. Chaturvedi, Contribution of constitutional liquation of gamma prime precipitate to weld HAZ cracking of cast Inconel 738 superalloy, Scripta Mater., 50(2004), No. 5, p. 641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. O.A. Ojo, N.L. Richards, and M.C. Chaturvedi, Microstructural study of weld fusion zone of TIG welded IN 738LC nickel-based superalloy, Scripta Mater., 51(2004), No. 7, p. 683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J.M. Kalinowski, Weldability of a Nickel-Based Superalloy, NASA Contractor Report 195376, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  14. V.M. Polyanskii, V.V. Gavrilyuk, V.Z. Zagorskii, A.V. Logunov, A.M. Polyanskii, and M.I. Silis, Structure, properties, and fracture mechanism of cast refractory nickel alloy, Met. Sci. Heat Treat., 46(2004), No. 9–10, p. 392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. M.J. Donachie and S.J. Donachie, Superalloys: A Technical Guide, 2nd Ed., ASM International, Ohio, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  16. O. Hunziker, D. Dye, and R.C. Reed, On the formation of a centreline grain boundary during fusion welding, Acta Mater., 48(2000), No. 17, p. 4191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation for Mr. Mehdi Talebipoor’s support in this research for the provision of alloys and other laboratory equipment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ceramic, Materials and Energy Research Center, Karaj, 3178 7316, Iran

    Arash Khakzadshahandashti, Mohammad Reza Rahimipour & Mansour Razavi

  2. Department of Material and Renewal Energy, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, 3353 5111, Iran

    Kourosh Shirvani

Authors
  1. Arash Khakzadshahandashti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Reza Rahimipour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kourosh Shirvani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mansour Razavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Rahimipour.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khakzadshahandashti, A., Rahimipour, M.R., Shirvani, K. et al. Weldability and liquation cracking behavior of ZhS6U superalloy during electron-beam welding. Int J Miner Metall Mater 26, 251–259 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1730-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1730-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation