Elevated temperature creep-rupture behavior of the single crystal nickel-base superalloy NASAIR 100

Abstract

The creep and rupture behavior of [001] oriented single crystals of the nickel-base superalloy NASAIR 100 was investigated at temperatures of 925 and 1000 °C. In the stress and temperature ranges studied, the steady state creep rate, time to failure, time to the onset of secondary creep, and the time to the onset of tertiary creep all exhibited power law dependencies on the applied stress. The creep rate exponents for this alloy were between seven and eight, and the modulus-corrected activation energy for creep was approximately 350 kjoule/mole, which was comparable to the measured activa-tion energy for Ostwald ripening of the γ′ precipitates. Oriented γ′ coarsening to form lamellae perpendicular to the applied stress was very prominent during creep. At 1000 °C, the formation of a continuous γ-γ′ lamellar structure was completed during the primary creep stage. Shear through the γ-γ ' interface is considered to be the rate limiting step in the deformation process. Gradual thickening of the lamellae appeared to be the cause of the onset of tertiary creep. At 925 °C, the fully developed lamellar structure was not achieved until the secondary or tertiary creep stages. At this temperature, the γ-γ′ lamellar structure did not appear to be as beneficial for creep resistance as at the higher temperature.