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Influence of Laser Power on the Hardening of Ti6Al4V Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Blade Material for Enhancing Water Droplet Erosion Resistance

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Abstract

To overcome water droplet erosion of Ti6Al4V alloy blade material used in low-pressure steam turbine (LPST) of high-rating nuclear and super critical thermal power plants, high-power diode laser (HPDL) surface treatment at two temperatures corresponding to two different power levels was carried out. During incubation as well as under prolonged erosion testing, the HPDL surface treatment of this alloy has enhanced its resistance significantly. This is due to the formation of fine-grained martensitic (ά) phase due to rapid heating and cooling associated with laser treatment. The droplet erosion test results after HPDL surface treatment on this alloy, SEM, XRD analysis, and residual stresses developed due to HPDL surface treatment are given in this paper.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Mr. Venkateswar Reddy for doing Scanning Electron Microscopy and Dr. (Mrs) Y. Kalpana for providing information on water chemistry. The authors are also thankful to the management of BHEL Corporate R&D for permission to publish this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surface Coatings and Treatment Laboratory, BHEL, Corporate R&D Division, Vikasnagar, Hyderabad, 500093, India

    B. S. Mann, Vivek Arya & B. K. Pant

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  1. B. S. Mann
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  2. Vivek Arya
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  3. B. K. Pant
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Correspondence to B. K. Pant.

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Mann, B.S., Arya, V. & Pant, B.K. Influence of Laser Power on the Hardening of Ti6Al4V Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Blade Material for Enhancing Water Droplet Erosion Resistance. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 20, 213–218 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9656-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9656-7

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