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The relative effects of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten on the occurrence of σ phase in Ni-Co-Cr alloys

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Abstract

The relative effects of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten on the occurrence of σ phase have been studied in Ni-Co-Cr alloys. These alloys were designed to simulate the γ matrix in commercial nickel-base superalloys that are strengthened primarily by precipitation of the γ phase, based on Ni3Al. Three alloy series were studied. The first series comprised four alloys varying in chromium content from 34.63 to 43.65 at. pct. The other two series contained separate molybdenum and tungsten additions of 1, 2, 3, and 4 at. pct at constant chromium contents of 37.5 at. pct. In each of the 12 alloys, the atomic percentages of nickel and cobalt were equal. The alloys were aged in both the annealed and cold-rolled conditions at 1400°F (760°C), 1550°F (845°C), and 1700°F (925°C) for times up to 3000 h. The contributions of the chromium-group elements to σ formation were evaluated both by measuring the volume percentage of σ phase and by determining the final composition of the y matrix after σ precipitation. By these two techniques, critical values of the average electron vacancy number, •Nv, for σ formation at 1550°F (845°C) were found to be 2.518 and 2.512, respectively; σ precipitation was most rapid at 1550°F (845°C). Both techniques in-dicated that under conditions approaching equilibrium, molybdenum and tungsten are equiv-alent in inducing σ formation and about 1.5 to 2 times as potent as chromium. The approxi-mate electron vacancy coefficients(Nv) for molybdenum and tungsten, as derived from volume-fraction measurements of σ phase, are as follows: 7.35 at 1400°F (760°C) and 1550°F (845°C), and 8.7 at 1700°F (925°C). The values derived from final compositions of the γ matrix after σ precipitation are 7.9 at 1550°F (845°C) and 8.6 at 1700°F (925°C). The bulk diffusion of aluminum into alloys that were otherwise not σ-prone at 1700°F (925°C) caused extensive σ precipitation during aging. This was due to copious precipitation of γ-Ni3Al and β-NiAl, resulting in enrichment of the matrix in elements of the chromium group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crawford and Russel, Inc., 06430, Stanford, Conn.

    Gary N. Kirby (Metallurgical Engineer)

  2. Climax Molybdenum Company of Michigan, 48106, Ann Arbor, Mich.

    D. L. Sponseller (Research Supervisor)

  3. University of Michigan, 48104, Ann Arbor, Mich.

    L. H. van Vlack (Professor of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering)

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  1. Gary N. Kirby
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  2. D. L. Sponseller
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  3. L. H. van Vlack
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Additional information

This paper is based on a dissertation submitted by GARY N. KIRBY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Metallurgical Engineering, The University of Michigan, 1971. The study was conducted in the Ann Arbor Research Labora-tory of the Climax Molybdenum Company of Michigan, a subsidiary of American Metal Climax, Inc.

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Kirby, G.N., Sponseller, D.L. & van Vlack, L.H. The relative effects of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten on the occurrence of σ phase in Ni-Co-Cr alloys. Metall Trans 5, 1477–1494 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02646635

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