Superalloy Metallurgy a Gleeble Study of Environmental Fracture in Inconel 601

Abstract

Superalloy Metallurgy a Gleeble Study of Environmental Fracture in Inconel 601Alan Demmons At temperatures above 0.5 Tm and in aggressive atmospheres predicting alloy performance is particularly challenging. Nickel alloys used in regimes where microstructure and properties are altered dynamically present unique requirements. Exposure may alter properties with unexpected early failure. The Gleeble is a valuable tool for investigation and simulation of thermo-mechanical properties of an alloy in various regimes up to the threshold of melting. In this study, four regimes of temperature and strain rate were simulated in an argon atmosphere to both investigate and document normal and abnormal failure modes. Commercial Inconel 601 was tested in selected regimes and in two treatments (as received and strain aged). Next two exposed conditions (TEOS and Hydride) were tested. Slow strain-rate and high temperature produced brittle intergranular fracture. Exposure at elevated temperature to process gases reduced both strength and ductility in both TEOS and Hydride. TEOS exposure reduced reduction in area in the alloy significantly more than the Hydride exposure.