PROCESSING NICKEL-BASE SUPERALLOY POWDERS FOR IMPROVED THERMOMECHANICAL WORKING

摘要

A nickel-based superalloy article formed from particles of the superalloy is processed to have a microstructure which is resistant to failure when processed using high strain thermomechanical processes. Articles having the desired microstructure are produced by hot isostatically pressing powder of the superalloy in a specified temperature range bounded by the incipient melting temperature as a minimum and the solvus temperature of stable high temperature phases. The compact is held under pressure in the specified temperature range to diffuse deleterious phases which exist as a result of the initial powder atomization operation. The powder compact thus formed can be processed using conventional processes to produce material for subsequent thermomechanical processing using high strain rate forging equipment and retain the benefits of chemical uniformity and cleanliness associated with traditional powder metal processes.