Effect of Melt Treatment on the Microstructure and Creep-Rupture Behavior of M963 Cast Nickel-Base Superalloy

The effect of melt treatment on the microstructure and creep-rupture behavior of M963 superalloy at 1248K under 225MPa has been investigated. The microstructure of the as-cast superalloy without melt treatment consists of γ solid solution matrix, γ´precipitate, coarse blocky MC carbide and (γ+γ´)eutectic. The striking difference in microstructure is that the melt treatment changes the MC carbide from the coarse blocky morphology into the fine script-like morphology. After heat-treated at 1483K for 4h followed by air-cooling, both the creep life and rupture elongation of the melt-treated alloy are all doubled those of the alloy without melt treatment. The mechanism of the melt treatment on the creep-rupture behavior of the M963 superalloy is discussed.