Papers by Author: Jia Rong Li

Abstract: Plastic deformation and recrystallization of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy were experimentally investigated. Compression and Brinell Indentation were utilized to cause plastic deformation, and thereafter some deformed samples received heat treatment. Surface topography around the indent confirms the anisotropic plasticity of single crystal superalloys. The influential distance below the indent is much larger than that on the indent surface. Microstructural observation by Electron Back-scatter Diffraction (EBSD) shows that it is easier for nucleation and grain boundary migration in the dendritic arms. In addition, the recovery has almost no effect on preventing recrystallization for deformed samples with small plastic strains (around 5%).

Abstract: Competitive growth and grain selection were simulated and analyzed during the directional solidification with the conditions for single crystal superalloy DD6 castings using Commercial software, ProCAST. A three dimensional cellular automaton (CA) model coupled with finite-element (FE) heat flow calculation was applied. Measurements at the grain scale were made using the EBSD method at the cross sections in the starter block and grain selector at an interval of 4 mm from the chill surface. The grain characteristics and the rules of competition growth were obtained. The validity of the simulation results were compared with those of the experiment. It concluded that the model-predicted tendency shows satisfactory agreement with the experiment. Increasing the distance from the chill decreases the number of grains, increases the radius of grains and drives the crystallization orientation of grains to principal stress orientation.

Abstract: The samples of single crystal superalloy DD6 were grit blasted and then heat treated in the temperature range of 1100-1250°C for 4h and the DD6 alloy ‘standard heat treatment’ in vacuum furnace, respectively. The results showed that cellular recrystallization occurred in the surface layer after heating at 1100°C for 4 hours. While equiaxed recrystallization grains occurred near the surface of the samples annealed at 1200°C for 4 hours, meanwhile, cellular recrystallization located between equiaxed recrystallization grains and the original region. With the improvement of the heating temperature, the size of cellular recrystallization decreased, while the size of equiaxed recrystallization grains increased, and the shape of the coarse γ′ phase in the cellular recrystallization changed from lamellar to equiaxial. Fully equiaxed recrystallization grains nucleated after standard heat treatment. Furthermore, the twins occurred in fully equiaxed recrystallization grains, and that the γ′ phase of the twin plane appeared different from that of the equiaxed recrystallization boundary. On the contrary, the twin formation was not observed in the cellular recrystallization grains. Therefore, the differences in twin behavior between the fully equiaxed recrystallization and cellular recrystallization grains were discussed.

Abstract: The tensile properties of DD6 alloy with twist low angle boundaries were investigated at 760°C, 850°C and 980°C, and the misorientation angle of twist low angle boundaries of the specimens of the alloy varies from 0º to 12º. The results showed that when the angle of low angle boundaries is relatively small, it has a little effect on the tensile properties of the alloy. It is notable that effects of low angle boundaries on the tensile strength are weaker than those on the tensile elongation. The characteristic of quasi-cleavage, intergranular and dimple fracture were observed on the tensile rupture surfaces of the specimens, and the tensile fracture mechanism was discussed.

Abstract: This work assesses the effects of the surface recrystallization of the processing of water grit blasting, grit blasting and mechanically polishing on the microstructures and creep rupture properties of DD6 alloy, a low-cost second generation single crystal superalloy. The results demonstrate that the possibility and the depth of the surface recrystallization of DD6 show an increase as the annealing temperature increases from 1050°C to 1250°C. No surface recrystallization happens when the specimens of the alloy have been undergone at 1100°C for 4 hours after water grit blasting, but the surface recrystallization occurs at the annealing temperature above 1200°C for 4 hours after water grit blasting. The test indicates that the increasing pre-deformation decreases the surface recrystallization temperature. The creep rupture life of DD6 alloy without processing is 274.4 hours, 341.1 hours at the conditions of 980°C/250MPa, 1070°C/140MPa respectively. After annealing at 1100°C for 4 hours, the creep rupture life of the alloy with the processing of water grit blasting is equivalent to that of the alloy without processing. The surface recrystallization of the alloy happens with the processing of grit blasting after the annealing at 1100°C for 4 hours, and there is a reduction of the creep rupture life at the conditions as mentioned above. The creep properties of DD6 alloy meet the needs of blades and vanes of single crystal for advanced aeroengines when the surface recrystallization of the alloy occurs during manufacturing and processing.

Abstract: The effects of thermal physical parameters and boundary conditions on investment solidification parameters were obtained using a computer simulation system. Directional solidification parameters of single crystal superalloy include the temperature distribution, the position and the shape of the solid/liquid interface in the mushy zone of the solidifying blade casting. Commercial finite-element analysis software, ProCAST, was used to simulate the solidification processes of the castings of single crystal DD6. The simulation results indicate that the predictions of the temperature show little sensitivity to the thermal physical parameters and boundary conditions. Further, it has also been shown that the location and the shape of solid/liquid interface is related to the boundary conditions of simulation. Increasing the value of interface heat transfer coefficient decreases the width of mushy zone.

Abstract: A mathematical model for three-dimensional simulation of unidirectional solidification process and microstructure evolution of Ni-based superalloy investment castings was developed based on CA-FD method. The modified ray tracing method was used to solve the complicated heat radiation transfer among the multiple blades and outer space during withdrawal process. Various withdrawal rates were used. During one process high withdrawal rate was used first before the platform approached the baffle. Then the low withdrawal rate was used to reduce the temperature difference of the platform in horizontal section and avoid the defects formed in the corner of the platform. The experimental cooling curves of different positions in the blades and microstructure were compared with the simulation results. Both the results showed that the various withdrawal rates process was effective to reduce the temperature difference of the platform and avoid the formation of stray grains. This process could be helpful to increase the productivity.

Abstract: The effects of high temperature exposure simulating service conditions on stress rupture properties were studied for the second generation single crystal superalloy DD6. The specimens with [001] orientation were exposed in air at temperatures of 980°C and 1070°C for 100h to 1000h. They were then tested using conventional mechanical tests at 1070°C/140MPa to determine the effects of exposure on stress rupture properties. The analysis indicated that stress rupture life decreased with increasing exposure time. At the temperature of 980°C, the stress rupture life is more than 180h after exposure for 1000h. When the test temperature increased to 1070°C, the stress rupture life exceeds 100h after 800h exposure. The morphology of γ prime phase after exposure was observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphologies evaluations have shown that alloy DD6 exhibits excellent microstructure stability after exposure. TCP (Topologically Closed Packed) phases have not been observed. It has been also found that the morphology and size of γ prime affected stress rupture life of the alloy. The decrement in stress rupture life with increasing exposure is a result of γ prime rafting.