Cobalt Based Superalloy

Appllca.tlons. The principal appHcations of nickel-base superalloys are in gas turbines, where they are utilized as blades, disks, and sheet metal parts. Abcraft gas turbines utilized in both commercial and military service depend upon superalloys for parts exposed to peak metal temperatures in excess of 1000°C. Typical gas turbine engines produced in the United States in 1990 utilized nickel and cobalt-base superalloys for 46% of total engine weight (41). However, programs for future aerospace propulsion systems emphasize the need for lightweight materials having greater heat resistance. For such apphcations, intermetallics matrix composites and ceramic composites are expected to be needed. 

However, under more realistic test conditions Hancock and Islam showed that in burner rig tests with contaminant flux rates greater than about 0-1 mgcm h" the corrosion rate of nickel- and cobalt-base superalloys was largely independent of alloy composition in the temperature range 7(X)-850 C. However, in burner rig tests at 6(X) C, simulating diesel engine combustion, Saunders et reported that Nimonic 80A (20% Cr) had superior resistance to Stellite 6 (Co-28%Cr) and EN 52 (Fe-8%Cr-3%Si). 

Calorised Coatings The nickel- and cobalt-base superalloys of gas turbine blades, which operate at high temperatures, have been protected by coatings produced by cementation. Without such protection, the presence of sulphur and vanadium from the fuel and chloride from flying over the sea promotes conditions that remove the protective oxides from these superalloys. Pack cementation with powdered aluminium produces nickel or cobalt aluminides on the surfaces of the blade aerofoils. The need for overlay coatings containing yttrium have been necessary in recent times to deal with more aggressive hot corrosion conditions. 

The arrangement of the melting and vacuum spray chambers is critical for guiding the liquid metal to eject into the vacuum chamber. Difficulties exist in precisely controlling the expulsion of the liquid metal into the vacuum chamber. Therefore, flaky droplets may be formed in vacuum atomization. Although vacuum atomization was developed mainly for the production of high-purity nickel and cobalt based superalloy powders, it is also applied to atomize the alloys of aluminum, copper and iron. 

Yttrium is also used in other areas of metallurgy notably as a component of certain nickel-base and cobalt-base superalloys of the NiCrAlY and CoCrAlY type.(3) These alloys possess excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, properties that have attracted the attention of the aero-engine industry where they are used as protective coatings on turbine blades. The alloys, when applied by vapour deposition, form an oxide coating that exhibits remarkable adhesion, a property attributed largely to the yttrium component acting to prevent the formation of voids at the oxide/substrate interface.(4)... 

High-purity metals and superalloys are required for the aeronautics, electronics, instruments, space, and defense industries the raw materials are at present imported. Primarily, these special metals include nickel-and cobalt-based superalloys, high-strength iron-based alloys, titanium-based alloys, controlled-expansion alloys, and magnetic materials. Keeping in view the importance of these metals and alloys and the expertise available in India for making them, the NCST has identified two projects for their development the setting up of a special metal and superalloys plant and the development of controlled-expansion alloys. 

Nickel based superalloys are one of three groups of materials used for demanding, high-temperature applications such as jet engines and gas turbines (e.g., Inconel X-750). The other two groups are iron-based and cobalt-based superalloys. 

Figure 8.34 Optical micrographs showing effects of Na2S04 and NaCl on scale spalling for the cobalt-base superalloy FSX-414 (a) no salt, (b) Na2S04, and (c) Na2S04 and NaCl.

INFLUENCE OF THERMOMECHANICAL TREATMENT ON STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF A COBALT BASED SUPERALLOY... 

Keywords Cobalt Based Superalloy, Tbermo-Mecbanical Treatment, Grain Size, Tensile... 

Influence of Thermomechanical Treatment on Structure and Properties of a Cobalt Based Superalloy.353... 

Elongation of Cobalt-Base Superalloys Elongation of Nickel-Base Superalloys Ductility of Refractory Metal Alloys... 

Tawe 140. Tensile Strength oe Cobalt-Base Superalloys... 

The term superalloy is used for a group of nickel-, iron-nickel-, and cobalt-based high-temperature materials for applications at temperatures > 540 °C. It is useful to compare the main subgroups in terms of the strengthening mechanisms applied and stress-rupture characteristics achieved, as shown in Fig. 3.1-127. In this section iron-nickel- and nickel-based superalloys are covered whereas cobalt-based superalloys are dealt with in Sect. 3.1.6.3. Nickel-based superalloys are among the most complex metallic materials with numerous alloying elements serving particular functions, as briefly outlined here. 

Klarstrom, D. L., Wrought Cobalt-base Superalloys, Materials and Processes for Gas Turbitie Engine Structures, Canadian Institute of Metallurgists, August 1991. 

Wolf, J. S., Sandrock, G. D. (1968), in Some Observations Concerning the Oxidation of the Cobalt-Base Superalloy L-605 (HS-25), Washington, DC National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Technical Note D-4715. 

---