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Influence of orientation-dependent grain boundary oxidation on fatigue cracking behaviour in an advanced Ni-based superalloy

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Abstract

Fatigue tests have been conducted on an advanced disc Ni-based superalloy [low solvus, high refractory (LSHR) alloy] at 650 °C in air under three-point bend loading to investigate the role of orientation-dependent grain boundary (GB) oxidation in crack initiation and early propagation. It is found that crack initiation occurs mainly from bulged GB oxides, and cracks then predominantly propagate along the oxidised grain boundaries. These bulged oxides are extremely enriched in Co and preferentially form at the boundaries between high and low Schmid factor grains which are inclined normal to the applied tensile stress direction. Meanwhile, relatively flat/thin Ni/Ti/Al-rich oxide complexes also form at other grain boundaries, but they appear to be much less detrimental in fatigue crack initiation and propagation compared with the bulged GB Co-rich oxide complexes.

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Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to the EPSRC (Grant EP/K027271/1) and China Scholarship Council for funding support and to NASA for the supply of the LSHR alloys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Research Group, Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    R. Jiang, N. Gao & P. A. S. Reed

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  1. R. Jiang
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  2. N. Gao
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  3. P. A. S. Reed
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Correspondence to R. Jiang.

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Jiang, R., Gao, N. & Reed, P.A.S. Influence of orientation-dependent grain boundary oxidation on fatigue cracking behaviour in an advanced Ni-based superalloy. J Mater Sci 50, 4379–4386 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8992-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8992-2

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