Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A contemporary view of nickel-base superalloys

  • Technical Article
  • Published:
JOM Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Nickel-base alloys, as designed for gas turbine use, have reached an interesting new level of technology. Where previously the main thrust of effort had been to improve mechanical capability, the problems of alloy phase stability and hot corrosion now control much alloy development, principally because of the need for increased alloy life and because gas turbines are being used in a wide variety of ambients. Fundamental and applied studies of hot corrosion phenomena are beginning to allow understanding and progress towards solution of the problem. Sodium sulfate has been the key reactant in the case of nickel alloys. Chromium, as an alloying element, helps inhibit hot corrosion, while molybdenum and aluminum appear to be a problem.

Utilizing basic concepts to apply knowledge of the tendency of solid solutions to form unwanted TCP phases, which destroy strength and disrupt ductility, combined with background information on the phases normally found in nickel alloys, a computer system to predict TCP phase formation has been developed. The system, called Phacomp, can classify and separate most nickel-base alloys, predicting whether they are free or prone from the deleterious phases.

Phacomp is and can be used to control or to evaluate production heats of superalloys. It can also be used as an alloy development tool, obviating much alloy preparation and testing, focusing attention on the stable compositions of interest. It may also have a future in other alloy systems.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. F. Raymond: Effects of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Notch Ductility of Two Age-Hardenable Ni-Cr-Fe Base Alloys, presented at the 95th AIME Annual Meeting, New York City, Feb. 28, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  2. H. J. Beattie, Jr., and W. C. Hagel: Trans. Met. Soc. AIME, 1965, vol. 233, no. 2, pp. 277–287.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. F. Barker: General Electric Co. FPD/TIS Report R65FPD51 (Feb. 5, 1965).

  4. S. T. Wlodek: Trans. Am. Soc. Met., 1964, vol. 57, pp. 110–119.

    Google Scholar 

  5. E. W. Ross: Recent Research on IN-100, presented at the 92nd AIME Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, February 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R. McCracken: Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge Co. Report TM-3540-67 (Nov. 16, 1962).

  7. E. L. Simons, H. A. Liebhafsky, and G. V. Browning: Corrosion, 1955, vol. 11, no. 12, p. 505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. A. U. Seybolt and A. M. Beltran: Observations on the High-Temperature Sulfur-Oxygen Corrosion of Nickel and Cobalt, presented at the ASTM Symposium on Hot Corrosion, Atlantic City, N. J., June 30, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  9. R. W. Hardt, J. R. Gambino, and P. A. Bergman: Marine Hot Corrosion Mechanism Studies, ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  10. P. A. Bergman, C. T. Sims, and A. M. Beltran: Development of Hot Corrosion-Resistant Alloys for Marine Gas Turbines, ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  11. S. T. Wlodek: Trans. Met. Soc. AIME, 1964, vol. 230, no. 8, pp. 1078–1090.

    Google Scholar 

  12. W. J. Boesch and J. S. Slaney: Met. Progr., 1964, vol. 86, no. 7, pp. 109–111.

    Google Scholar 

  13. P. Greenfield and P. A. Beck: Trans. AIME, 1956, vol. 206, pp. 265–275.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Electronic Structure and Alloy Chemistry of the Transition Elements, ed. by P. A. Beck, Interscience (New York), 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  15. L. R. Woodyatt, H. J. Beattie, and C. T. Sims: Periodic Group Effects and Phase Relationships to Stability of Nickel- and Cobalt-Base Superalloys and Stainless Steels, presented at the Fall Meeting of The Metallurgical Society, Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 20, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  16. L. R. Woodyatt, C. T. Sims, and H. J. Beattie: Trans. Met. Soc. AIME, 1966, vol. 236, no. 4, pp. 519–527.

    Google Scholar 

  17. L. Brewer: High-Strength Materials, ed. by Victor F. Zackay, Chapter 2, John Wiley and Sons (New York), 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  18. High-Temperature Materials Program Progress Report No. 55, Part A, GEMP-35A (Jan. 31, 1966), GE-NMPO, Evendale, Ohio.

  19. F. C. Frank and J. S. Kasper: Acta Cryst., 1958, vol. 11, pp. 184–190; 1959, vol. 12, pp. 483–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. D. K. Das, S. P. Rideout, and P. A. Beck: Trans. AIME, 1952, vol. 194, pp. 1071–1079.

    Google Scholar 

  21. P. A. Beck and W. D. Manley: Trans. AIME, 1949, vol. 185, p. 354.

    Google Scholar 

  22. H. J. Beattie, Jr., and W. C. Hagel: Trans. Met. Soc. AIME, 1961, vol. 221, no. 2, pp. 28–34.

    Google Scholar 

  23. W. J. Boesch and J. S. Slaney: Phase Stability in Wrought Precipitation-Hardened Nickel-Base Alloys, presented at the 95th AIME Annual Meeting, New York City, Feb. 28, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. High-Temperature Materials Unit, Materials and Processes Laboratory, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y., USA

    Chester T. Sims (member of AIME, supervisor)

Authors
  1. Chester T. Sims
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sims, C.T. A contemporary view of nickel-base superalloys. JOM 18, 1119–1130 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03378505

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03378505

Search

Navigation