Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Grain Selection in Spiral Selectors During Investment Casting of Single-Crystal Turbine Blades: Part I. Experimental Investigation

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spiral grain selectors are used to grow single-crystal (SX) turbine blades during investment casting. Competitive growth in the spiral selectors leads to the selection of a single grain that subsequently grows to form the blade. In this study, the effect of spiral design on grain selection during investment casting was investigated through a series of experiments. It is found that the spiral design can effectively reduce the grain number but is not able to optimize axial grain orientations during solidification, the effectiveness of grain selection is strongly dependent on the spiral “take-off” angle, and spirals with smaller take-off angles are most potent. It is proposed that grain selection in the spiral is controlled by the geometry of the spiral via a “geometrical blocking” mechanism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. McLean: Directionally Solidified Materials for High Temperature Service, The Metals Society, London, 1983, pp. 107–149.

    Google Scholar 

  2. P.A. Jennings: Rolls-Royce plc., Derby, United Kingdom, 1996.

  3. T. Murakumo, T. Kobayashi, Y. Koizumi, and H. Harada: Acta Mater., 2004, vol. 52, pp. 3737–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. B.C. Wilson and G.E. Fuchs: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2010, vol. 41A, pp. 1235–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Suzuki, M.F.X. Gigliotti, B.T. Hazel, D.G. Konitzer, and T.M. Pollock: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2010, vol. 41A, pp. 947–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. H.J. Dai, H.B. Dong, H.V. Atkinson, and P.D. Lee: Solid State Phenomena, 2008, vol. 139, pp. 129–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. N. D’Souza, P.A. Jennings, X.L. Yang, H.B. Dong, P.D. Lee, and M. McLean: Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 2005, vol. 36B, pp. 657–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R.C. Reed, T. Tao, and N. Warnken: Acta Mater., 2009, vol. 57, pp. 5898–5913.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. P. Caron and T. Khan: Aero. Sci. Technol., 1999, vol. 3, pp. 513–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Tin, T.M. Pollock, and W.T. King: Superalloys 2000, K.A. Green, T.M. Pollock, and R.D. Kissinger, eds., Champion, PA, 2000, pp. 201–10.

  11. A. Heckl, R. Rettig, and R.F. Singer: Metal. Mater. Trans. A, 2010, vol. 41A, pp. 202–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. N. D’Souza, M. Lekstrom, H.J. Dai, B.A. Shollock, and H.B. Dong: Mater. Sci. Technol., 2007, vol. 23, pp. 729–33.

    Google Scholar 

  13. R.C. Reed, D.C. Cox, and C.M.F. Rae: Mater. Sci. Technol., 2007, vol. 23, pp. 893–902.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. T. M. Pollock and S. Tin: J. Propul. Power, 2006, vol. 22, pp. 361–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. M.J. Goulette, P.D. Spilling, and R.P. Arthey: Superalloys 1984, C.S. Kortovich and R.H. Bricknell, eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1984, p. 167.

  16. R.E. Napolitano and R.J. Schaefer: J. Mater. Sci., 2000, vol. 35, pp. 1641–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. X.L. Yang, H.B. Dong, W. Wang, and P.D. Lee: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2004, vol. 386, pp. 129–39.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Y.Z. Zhou, A. Volek, and N.R. Green: Acta Mater., 2008, vol. 56, pp. 2631–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Wagner, B.A. Shollock, and M. McLean: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2004, vol. 374, pp. 270–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M. Rappaz, C. Gandin, J. Desbiolles, and P. Thévoz: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 1996, vol. 27A, pp. 695–705.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. P. Carter, D.C. Cox, C.A. Gandin, and R.C. Reed: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2000, vol. 280, pp. 233–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. H. Esaka, K. Shinozuka, and M. Tamura: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2005, vols. 413–414, pp. 151–55.

    Google Scholar 

  23. H.J. Dai, J.-C. Gebelin, N. D’Souza, P.D. Brown, and H.B. Dong: Int. J. Cast Met. Res., 2009, vol. 22, pp. 54–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. D. Pan, Q. Xu, B. Liu, J. Li, H. Yuan, and H. Jin: JOM, 2010, vol. 62, pp. 30–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. H.J. Dai, J.C. Gebelin, M. Newell, R.C. Reed, N. D’Souza, P.D. Brown, and H.B. Dong: Superalloys 2008, R.C. Reed and K.A. Green, Champion PA, 2008, pp. 367–74

  26. H.B. Dong and P.D. Lee: Acta Mater., 2005, vol. 53, pp. 659–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. C.A. Gandin, M. Rappaz, and R. Tintillier: Metall. Trans. A, 1994, vol. 25A, pp. 629–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. Y.Z. Zhou and Professor N. Green, Department of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, for assistance with the casting experiments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom

    H. J. Dai (former Postdoctoral Student, Visiting Researcher) & H. B. Dong (Reader)

  2. Rolls-Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom

    N. D’Souza (Casting Specialist)

Authors
  1. H. J. Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. D’Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. B. Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. B. Dong.

Additional information

*This article is partially based on a presentation given in Superalloys 2008, Champion, PA.

Manuscript submitted October 18, 2010.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dai, H.J., D’Souza, N. & Dong, H.B. Grain Selection in Spiral Selectors During Investment Casting of Single-Crystal Turbine Blades: Part I. Experimental Investigation. Metall Mater Trans A 42, 3430–3438 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-011-0760-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-011-0760-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation