Abstract: (3 Views)
This study examines how solution treatment temperature affects the dissolution of fine-grained areas (FGAs) that form during hot rolling of René 65 nickel-based superalloy. These FGAs, which are rich in sub-micron to micron-sized primary γ' precipitates (γ'I) and located mainly in shear bands, remained stable after sub-solvus treatments below 1055 °C. They dissolved gradually with increasing temperature and disappeared completely above 1115 °C. The resulting microstructural changes, along with high-temperature tensile properties and creep behavior in the 1055–1115 °C range (followed by aging at 760 °C for 8 h), were evaluated. Raising the solution temperature reduced the FGA volume fraction and improved tensile elongation, while yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) remained largely unchanged. At 1095 °C, creep life at 730 °C / 530 MPa exceeded 100 h without fracture and exhibited a notably lower steady-state creep rate. These improvements appear linked to the elimination of secondary γ' depleted zones around the former FGAs, which produced a more uniform secondary γ' distribution, greater crack path deflection, and continued Zener pinning by remaining primary precipitates. However, solution treatment at 1115 °C caused grain growth and coarsening of secondary precipitates, which reduced creep performance. Overall, 1095 °C provided the best compromise for microstructural uniformity and balanced high-temperature properties in hot-rolled René 65.
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The manuscript highlights are following sentences;
Sever heterogeneity caused by hot rolling can be eliminated after solution heat treatment.
FGA’s dissolution was associated with no grain growth upto 1095 °C Solution treatment.
Rene65 creep response showed a strong dependence on solution-treatment temperature.
The 1095 °C specimen exhibited the lowest minimum creep rate.
Treatment at 1115 °C caused substantial grain growth and marked γ′ coarsening.