Abstract
This article describes a quantitative study of the microstructure of nickel-based superalloy RR1000 tube structures joined by inertia welding. One as-welded and three post weld heat-treated (PWHT) conditions have been investigated. The samples were characterized mechanically by measuring the hardness profiles and microstructurally in terms of γ grain size, γ′ precipitate size and volume fraction, stored energy, and microtexture. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to characterize high-angle grain boundaries (HAGB) and the variation of microtexture across the weld line. The coherent γ′ precipitates were investigated over a range of scales on etched samples in a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEGSEM), using carbon replicas in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and from thin slices by means of high-energy synchrotron X-rays. Dramatic changes in the microstructure were observed within 2 mm of the weld line. In this region, the hardness profile is influenced by changes in grain size, γ′ volume fraction, γ′ particle size, and the work stored in the material. Further away, the observed hardness variation is still significant although only minor microstructural changes could be observed. In this region, the correlation of microstructure and hardness is less straightforward. Here, a combination of small microstructural changes appears to give rise to a significant change in strength. No significant texture or grain distortion was observed in the extensively plastically deformed region due to recrystallization.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Superalloys, Supercomposites and Superceramics, J.K. Tien and T. Caulfield, eds., Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd., London, 1989, pp. 142–43.
The Superalloys, C.T. Sims and W.C. Hagel, eds., John Wiley, New York, NY, 1972, pp. 509–32.
R. Spinat and Y. Honnorat: in High Temperature Alloys for Gas Turbines and Other Applications, W. Betz et al., eds., Dordrecht D. Reidel, Butterworth-Heinemann, Ltd., Oxford, 1986, pp. 151–57.
M. Soucail, A. Moal, L. Nazé, E. Massoni, C. Leviallant, and Y. Bienvenu: in Superalloys 1992, S.D. Antolovich, R.W. Stusrud, R.A. Mackay, D.L. Anton, T. Khan, R.D. Kissinger, and D.L. Klarstrom, eds., TMS, 1992, pp. 847–56.
M. Preuss, J.W.L. Pang, P.J. Withers, and G. Baxter: Mater. Trans A, 2002, vol. 33A, pp. 3227–34.
S.J. Hessell et al.: U.S. Patent No. 5,897,718, Apr. 27, 1999.
M.P. Jackson and R.C. Reed: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1999, vol. 259, pp. 85–97.
P. Adam: Welding of High Strength Gas Turbine Alloys, Applied Science Publisher Ltd., London, 1978, pp. 737–68.
K.G. Schmitt-Thomas, P. Adam, H. Meisel, and R. Siede: Z. Mettalkd., 1982, vol. 73 (9), pp. 558–65.
J.P. Ferte: J. Phys. IV, 1993, vol. 3, pp. 1019–27.
Superalloys II, High Temperature Materials for Aerospace & Industrial Power, C.T. Sims, N.S. Stoloff, and W.C. Hagel, eds., John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, NY, 1987, pp. 221–26.
The Superalloys, C.T. Sims and W.C. Hagel, eds., John Wiley, New York, NY, 1972, p. 44.
A. Royer, P. Bastie, and M. Véron: Scripta Mater., vol. 37, 1997, pp. 1199–1205.
A. Royer, P. Bastie, and M. Véron: Scripta Mater., vol. 40, 1999, pp. 955–61.
A. Royer, P. Bastie, and M. Véron: Acta Mater., 1998, vol. 46, pp. 5357–68.
Software and user manual at: http://www.umist.ac.uk/material/research/aluminum/frame.html.
W.T. Read: Dislocations in Crystals, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1953.
L.E. Murr: Interfacial Phenomena in Metals and Alloys, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1975, p. 131.
Channel 4.2: HKL Technology ApS, Blaakildevej 17k, Hobro, DK-9500, Denmark.
A.J. Manning: Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1999, p. 114.
B. Reppich, P. Schepp, and G. Wehner: Acta Metall., 1982, vol. 30, pp. 95–104.
V. Seetharaman, K.B.S. Rao, D. Sundararaman, and P. Rodriguez: Acta Metall., 1987, vol. 35, pp. 565–75.
F. Torster, G. Baumeister, J. Albrecht, G. Luetjering, D. Helm, and M.A. Daeubler: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1997, vol. A234, pp. 189–92.
J.J. Schirra and S.H. Goetschius: Superalloys 1992, S.D. Antolovich, R.W. Stusrud, R.A. Mackay, D.L. Anton, T. Khan, R.D. Kissinger, and D.L. Klarstrom, eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1992, pp. 437–46.
J. Jones: Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1997, p. 52.
W. Mangen and E. Nembach: Acta Metall., 1989, vol. 37, pp. 1451–63.
B.D. Cullity: Elements of X-ray Diffraction, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA, 1978, pp. 284–92.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Preuss, M., Withers, P.J., Pang, J.W.L. et al. Inertia welding nickel-based superalloy: Part I. Metallurgical characterization. Metall Mater Trans A 33, 3215–3225 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-002-0307-y
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-002-0307-y