Effects of the Hot Isostatic Pressing Process on Crack Healing of the Laser Repair-Welded CM247LC Superalloy
This study investigated the effects of the hot isostatic pressing process on the crack healing, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the laser repair-welded CM247LC precipitation-hardened superalloy. To ensure the strength of the repair-welded area, this study used the direct re-melting approach, and simulated the repair welding with the filler addition, which has a chemical composition matching that of the base superalloy. As expected, different types of cracks, including the solidification crack in the weld fusion zone and various types of liquidation cracks in the heat-affected zone, were observed. Through a proper hot isostatic pressing healing process, all cracks in the weld fusion zone and the heat-affected zone of the repair-welded pieces were healed. At the same time, some nano- and micro-sized carbides tended to form discontinuously along the healed crack trace. A micro-hardness test was conducted in the repair-welded area, and the results were similar to that of the as-cast material.
Liquation Cracking in the Heat-Affected Zone of IN738 Superalloy Weld
The main scope of this study investigated the occurrence of liquation cracking in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of IN738 superalloy weld, IN738 is widely used in gas turbine blades in land-based power plants. Microstructural examinations showed considerable amounts of γ’ uniformly precipitated in the γ matrix. Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) maps showed the γ-γ’ colonies were rich in Al and Ti, but lean in other alloy elements. Moreover, the metal carbides (MC), fine borides (M3B2 and M5B3), η-Ni3Ti, σ (Cr-Co) and lamellar Ni7Zr2 intermetallic compounds could be found at the interdendritic boundaries. The fracture morphologies and the corresponding EPMA maps confirmed that the liquation cracking in the HAZ of the IN738 superalloy weld resulted from the presence of complex microconstituents at the interdendritic boundaries.
The role of dissolved oxygen in supercritical water in the oxidation of ferritic–martensitic steel
Abstract To assess the role of dissolved oxygen in supercritical water on the growth processes of oxide scales, a marker experiment of ferritic–martensitic steel was performed by exposing to supercritical water (H 2 16 O) containing marked 18 O 2 at 600 °C under 25 MPa. The oxide scale was analysed by using Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). The oxygen isotope profile shows that dissolved oxygen and supercritical water react with metals simultaneously. Dissolved oxygen changes the oxidation/reduction potential of supercritical water leading to an increase in the oxidation rate. The oxidation rate increases with increase in dissolved oxygen content in supercritical water. The mechanism of the effect of dissolved oxygen on oxidation is discussed.