Effect of cold rolling and first precipitates on the coarsening behavior of γ″-phases in Inconel 718 alloy

The coarsening behaviors of γ″-phase particles in Inconel 718 alloy aged at 750, 800, and 850°C were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed observations and quantitative measurements were conducted to characterize the coarsening behavior of the γ″-phase under various aging conditions. The experimental results indicate that the existence of the δ-phase retards the formation and coarsening of the γ″-phase, without influencing its final particle size or amount. Moreover, when cold rolled with a reduction of 50%, the dimensions of the γ″ particles in Inconel 718 alloy decrease with increasing aging time. Furthermore, the coarsening behavior of the γ″-phase in the Inconel 718 alloy after a normal aging treatment (sample A) and that of the primary δ-phase (sample B) follow the Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner (LSW) diffusion-controlled growth theory; the thus-obtained activation energies for the γ″-phase are 292 kJ·mol^-1 and 302 kJ·mol^-1, respectively.