Solidification map of a nickel-base alloy

J. J. Blecher, T. A. Palmer, T. Debroy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

The solidification behavior of the advanced nickel-base alloys, such as Inconel® Alloy 690, is important for understanding their microstructure, properties, and eventual service behavior in nuclear power plant components. Here, an experimental and theoretical program of research is undertaken with the aim of developing a quantitative understanding of the solidification behavior under a wide range of temperature gradients and solidification growth rates. The temperature gradient and solidification rates vary spatially by several orders of magnitude during keyhole mode laser welding. Therefore, the solidification structure is experimentally characterized from microscopic examinations of the resulting fusion zones and correlated with fundamental solidification parameters to provide a widely applicable solidification map that can be employed for a broad range of solidification processes. The cell and secondary dendrite arm spacings are quantitatively correlated with cooling rates. An Alloy 690 solidification map, which illustrates the effect of temperature gradient and solidification rate on the morphology and scale of the solidification structures, is also presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2142-2151
Number of pages10
JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
Volume45
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Metals and Alloys

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