Microstructural evolution in directionally solidified Ni-base superalloy IN792+Hf

Microstructural evolution during directional solidification (DS) of Ni-base superalloy IN792+Hf has been investigated with an emphasis on the γ′ precipitates and MC-type carbides. The quantitative image analyses revealed that the increase in the solidification rate up to 100 μm/s at constant thermal gradient of 178 K/cm resulted in a fine and uniform distribution of γ′ precipitates. The relationship between the as-cast γ′ size and cooling rate was also determined for DS IN792+Hf. In the mean time, the MC carbide size was found to be dependent both on the solidification rate and the S/L interface morphology while the area fraction of MC carbide was significantly influenced by the S/L interface morphology.