Mechanical properties and microstructure changes after long-term aging at 700℃ for a nickel-base superalloy

Mechanical properties and microstructure changes have been investigated on a new nickel-base superalloy after long-term aging at 700℃. It is found that the major precipitates of the tested alloy are MC, M₂₃C₆, M₆C and γ' in the course of long-term aging at 700℃. The carbides maintain good thermal stability with the aging time up to 5008 h. The growth rate of gamma prime precipitates is relatively high in the early aging period and then slows down. The coarsening behavior of gamma prime follows a diffusion-controlled growth procedure. The room temperature Rockwell hardness of the alloy aged at 700℃ increases slightly at the initial stage of aging, but it decreases with the prolonged time. It mainly depends on the size of gamma prime. In comparison with Nimonic lloy 263, the new alloy characterizes with higher tensile and stress-rupture strengths at high temperatures. The new nickel-base superalloy offers a combination of microstructure stability, strength, ductility and toughness at 700℃.