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Stray grain formation in the seed region of single-crystal turbine blades

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  • Casting Defects
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Abstract

Seed crystals are frequently used to provide an off-axial 〈001〉 crystallographic orientation to investment cast single-crystal, nickel-based superalloy turbine blades. However, stray grain defects can form during the melt-back of the seed crystal, requiring the use of a helical grain selector between the seed and the blade to remove them. Using meso-scale numerical simulations, the formation mechanisms of these stray grain defects have been investigated. Also investigated was the influence of the seed’s crystallographic orientation relative to blade axis. The model is first validated by comparison to experimental observations and then by its application to a range of casting situations. The results show that initiation of these defects is difficult to avoid. Instead, the impact of stray grains should be controlled during their growth.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Materials, Imperial College London, UK

    X. L. Yang & P. D. Lee

  2. the Precision Casting Facility, Rolls Royce plc, Derby, United Kingdom

    N. D’Souza

Authors
  1. X. L. Yang
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  2. P. D. Lee
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  3. N. D’Souza
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Additional information

For more information, contact P.D. Lee, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2BP, U.K.; e-mail p.d.lee@imperial.ac.uk.

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Yang, X.L., Lee, P.D. & D’Souza, N. Stray grain formation in the seed region of single-crystal turbine blades. JOM 57, 40–44 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0094-1

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