Investigation of the y´ Precipitates Dissolution in a Ni-Based Superalloy During Stress-Free Short-Term Annealing at High Homologous Temperatures

The equiaxed Ni-based superalloy Rene 108 was subjected to short-term annealing at five temperatures between 900 degrees C and 1100 degrees C. The phase composition, phase lattice parameters, microstructure, stereological parameters, and chemical composition of y´ precipitates were investigated by thermodynamic simulations, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Analysis of the y and y´ lattice parameters using the Nelson-Riley extrapolation function showed that the misfit parameter for temperatures 900 degrees C to 1050 degrees C is positive (decreasing from 0.32 to 0.11 pct). At 1100 degrees C, the parameter becomes negative, delta = - 0.18 pct. During the short-term annealing, gamma ‘ precipitates dissolution occurred progressing more rapidly with increasing temperatures. The surface fraction of y´ precipitates decreased with increasing temperature from 0.52 to 0.34. The dissolution of gamma ‘ precipitates did not only proceed through uninterrupted thinning of each individual precipitate, but also included more complex mechanisms, including splitting. Based on transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that after y´ precipitates dissolution, the matrix close to the y/y interface is strongly enriched in Co and Cr and depleted in Al.This work was supported by the Polish National Science Centre (Preludium 13) under grant 2017/25/N/ST8/02368. The authors wish to express appreciation to prof. Wiktoria Ratuszek (AGH-UST) for supporting the XRD study.</p