Origins of Solidification Defects during Processing of Nickel-Base Superalloys

摘要

The development of nickel-base superalloys for application in gas turbines has required a parallel evolution of sophisticated solidification processing in order to achieve the appropriate microstructures and levels of alloy cleanliness needed to deliver the optimum properties. This paper will consider the origins of various defects that can occur during processing which potentially limit the performance of turbine blades and discs. It discusses approaches to minimising the occurrence of these defects and the need for reliable measurements of critical physical and thermodynamic properties to facilitate the development of practical process models.