GE Ross Cast Nickel Base Alloy (Rene 80) 1971 US3615376A
Publication Number: US3615376A
Publication Date: 1971-10-26
Priority Number: USD3615376A | US1968772796A
Application Date: 1968-11-01
Title: CAST NICKEL BASE ALLOY
Inventor - w/address: Ross Earl W.,OH,US
Assignee/Applicant: Company General Electric,US
Front
Page Drawing:
Abstract:
An
improved cast nickel base alloy has a combination of stability,
high-temperature stress rupture strength and hot corrosion resistance primarily
through control of such phases as sigma, eta, and the carbides. Control is
achieved through the balance of the elements Al, Ti, Mo, W, Co, Cr and C in the
proper relationships with a Ni base in the substantial absence of Fe.
First
Claim:
1. A cast nickel base alloy of improved
stability, strength and corrosion resistance, consisting essentially of, by
weight: * about 0.15-0.3 percent C, said carbon percentage
being greater than that required for deoxidation and in addition being
sufficient for forming grain boundary carbides;
*
greater than 13 percent but less than 15.6 percent Cr;
*
greater than 5 up to 15 percent Co;
*
2.5-5 percent Mo;
* 3-6 percent W;
*
4-6 percent Ti;
*
2-4 percent A1;
*
0.005-0.02 percent B;
* up
to about 0.1 percent Zr;
*
with the balance essentially nickel and incidental impurities the ratio
Ti/A1 being in the range of greater than 1:1 to less than 3:1;
*
the sum of Ti and A1 being in the range of 7.5-9 percent; and
*
the sum of Mo and half of the W being in the range of 5-7 percent; and
further characterized by the substantial absence of sigma phase and a stress
rupture life in the as-cast condition of at least about 25 hours under a stress
of 27,500 p.s.i. at 1,800° F.
Description
w/Pub Language: The invention
described and claimed in the U.S. Pat. application herein resulted from work
done under united States Government contract FA-SS-66-6. The United States
Government has an irrevocable, nonexclusive license under said application to
practice and have practiced the invention claimed herein, including the
unlimited right to sublicense others to practice and have practice the claimed
invention for any purpose whatsoever.
Advancing technology and development of
improved power-producing apparatus such as the gas turbine engine has
identified the need for stronger alloys which are stable at relatively high
operating temperatures such as up to 1,800° F. and yet can withstand the
corrosive atmospheres in which they are intended to operate. Although a number
of alloy systems including those based on the refractory metals have been
evaluated for such applications, the nickel base alloy remains the type
presently most widely used in such difficult applications.
One high-temperature nickel base alloy
application of particular interest is the cast form of the alloy. However,
known nickel base alloys in cast forms either are relatively weak or unstable
during longtime operation or have insufficient resistance in hot corrosive
atmospheres particularly in the 1,500° F.-1,800° range.
It is a principal object of this invention to
provide an improved cast nickel base alloy having an unusual combination of
strength and stability for longtime operation at elevated temperatures coupled
with hot corrosion resistance.
A more specific object is to provide such an
alloy of improved stability and having a stress rupture life in the as-cast
condition of at least 25 hours under a stress condition of 27,500 p.s.i. at
1,800. degree. F.
These and other objects and advantages will be
more apparent from the following detailed description and typical
representative examples within the broad scope of the appended claims.
It has been recognized that a cast nickel base
alloy having an improved combination of high-temperature stability and hot
corrosion resistance along with a stress rupture life of at least 25 hours
under stress of 27,500 p.s.i. at Cr; F. can be attained through (1) the control
of the type of precipitation of strengthening phases first with carbon, and
second with the elements titanium and aluminum in a nickel matrix, (2) the
control of the solution-strengthening mechanisms as a result of the presence of
W and Mo in particular portions to precipitate desirable carbides, along with
(3) the substantial elimination of the well-known embrittling and weakening
phases such as sigma and eta. Broadly, the composition which defines such an
alloy consists essentially of, by weight, 0.1-0.3% C; greater than 13% but less
than 15. 6% Cr; 4-6% Ti; 2-4%A1; 0.005-0.02%B; 3-6%W; 2.5-5%Mo; greater than 5%
up to 15% Co; up to 0.1% Zr; with the balance nickel and incidental impurities
provided that the ratio of Ti to A1 is greater than 1 but less than 3:1, the
sum of Ti and A1 is 7.5-9% Mo w/2 is 5-7%.
In the alloy of the present invention, carbon,
preferably in the range of about 0.15-0.2 percent provides for carbide
formation which leads to improved strength particularly at high temperatures.
Insufficient carbon, for example at about 0.08 percent is insufficient for
high-temperature strength whereas an overabundance of carbon, for example,
above about 0.3 percent results in lower life and embrittlement at lower
temperatures as a result of excessive carbide formation in the grain
boundaries.
The element chromium provides oxidation and
hot corrosion resistance. However, in amounts of less than 13 percent there is
insufficient hot corrosion resistance provided in the temperature range of
about 1,500-1, 800° F. Cr in amounts greater than 16 percent leads to the
formation of sigma and other deleterious phases without proper phase control.
Accordingly, the preferred Cr range is 13.5-14.5 percent to assure such phase
control.
As is the case with Cr, Co in excessive
amounts can result in sigma phase formation. However, in the proper amounts
described herein, Co adds to the gamma prime solubility and affects ductility
of the alloy.
Very critical to the alloy of the present
invention are the elements W and Mo which generally are identified with the
solution-strengthening mechanism of a nickel base alloy. However, it has been
recognized that a complex control of both sigma phase and of precipitating
carbides can be achieved through a careful balance of the amounts of W and Mo.
As will be shown in detail in connection with the specific examples, it was
unexpectedly recognized that if the total amount of W and Mo were maintained
such that the sum of half of the W and all of the Mo were in the range of 5-7
percent, not only could the formation of sigma phase be inhibited but also the
more stable M.sub.6 C carbide could be formed along with the M.sub.23 C.sub.6
carbide rather than all M.sub.23 C.sub.6. Although Mo has been included in
substantial amounts in certain known nickel base alloys, it has been recognized
that Mo on a weight percentage basis is a more potent sigma phase former. It
has also been previously shown that W additions are beneficial to 1,500-1,800°
F. stress rupture strength. Therefore, it is necessary that both Mo and W be
present and that the ranges in which the above relationship is maintained is
3-6 percent W and 2.5-5 percent Mo in order to maintain optimum alloy strength
and stability.
The elements Ti and A1 have been described in
connection with their function as the primary precipitation-strengthening
elements in combination with nickel in forming Ni.sub.3 (A1Ti). Now it has been
unexpectedly discovered that in the proper combination, they also function to
improve hot corrosion (sulfidation) resistance particularly in the 1,500-1,800°
F. range. This unique combination of A1 and Ti along with that just described
for Mo and W in their dual control function is one important aspect of the
present invention not recognized in known nickel base alloys.
The present invention recognizes that Ti/A1
ratio must be greater than 1 to provide such improved hot corrosion resistance
but less than 3:1 to prevent the formation of the weakening eta (Ni.sub.3 Ti)
phase. A1 is preferably included in the range of about 2.5-3.5 percent because
for one reason it can result in the formation of sigma phase somewhat more
readily than does Ti; A1 ties up more nickel from the matrix to form the
Ni.sub.3 (A1,Ti), sometimes referred to as gamma prime. This occurs because of
the lower atomic weight of aluminum compared with titanium. As the gamma prime
content increases, there is less nickel available in the gamma matrix.
Therefore, there is a greater tendency for sigma phase formation due to the
relatively larger amounts of Cr, Co, Mo, and W in the matrix. Accordingly, it
is an objective to keep as much nickel as possible in the gamma matrix.
Hence, keeping close control and lowering the
A1 content relative to the Ti content will result in less tendency to form the
embrittling sigma phase and the higher Ti/A1 ratio will improve hot corrosion
resistance.
The present invention recognizes the
criticality of United States patent of aluminum and titanium not only from the
standpoint of the ratio of aluminum and described above but also that at least
7.5 weight percent of the two elements is required but no more than 9 weight
percent can be tolerated without seriously depleting the practiced matrix. The
proper amount of A1 stabilizes the gamma prime phase and prevents the Ni.sub.3
Ti formation. With too much Ti, the Ni.sub.3 (A1, Ti) is metastable and breaks
down to form the weakening Ni.sub.3 Ti.
Although iron has been included or tolerated
in certain relatively large amounts in known nickel base alloys, the present
invention recognizes that iron tends to form deleterious phases. Therefore, it
is preferred that no iron be present although slight adjustment such as in the
solid solution-strengthening elements can be made to tolerate small amounts of
Fe.
Boron is included within the range of
0.005-0.02 percent for its beneficial effect on rupture strength and ductility.
The alloy including boron below that level is weak, whereas too high a boron
content results in the formation of excessive borides leading to incipient
melting on over temperature exposure.
It has been recognized in evaluation of the
present invention that the elements Cb and Ta are not substitutes for W and Mo.
It is believed that about half of the Cb or Ta goes into gamma prime formation,
such as Ni. sub.3 (A1, Ti Cb, Ta), and to carbides. Both deplete the matrix and
are undesirable in the balanced alloy defined by the present invention. Both
can lead to the formation of sigma phase.
These unusual aspects of the present invention
will be more clearly understood from the following detailed examples typical of
alloys melted in the evaluation of the alloy of the present invention. The
alloys were melted by the commercial vacuum-melting techniques widely used in
the preparation of nickel base alloys. Heats ranging in size from about 12
pounds to about 1,000 pounds have been made, the latter being made on alloys
within the range of the present invention. Test specimens were prepared either
by casting directly from the melting furnace into precision casting specimen
molds or by remelting and casting previously prepared alloy ingots.
The alloy forms representative of those melted
within the scope of the present invention are shown in the following table I.
##SPC1##
Other alloys made and tested during the
evaluation of the alloy of the present invention include those shown in the
following table II, outside the scope of the present invention. ##SPC2##
The improved characteristics of the present
invention are particularly measured by combination of high-temperature stress
rupture life and stability along with hot corrosion resistance. This
improvement as it relates to longtime stability is related to the suppression
of the formation of such embrittling phases as sigma and eta. These phases are
greatly suppressed or are entirely eliminated according to the alloy of the
present invention. When certain known case alloys are exposed to elevated
temperatures, the gamma phase and carbides, which are found in the primary
gamma prime phase, agglomerate. At temperatures in the range of about 1,300°
F.-1,800° F., sigma plates form in matrix areas surrounding the gamma prime.
This formation, which is accelerated by stress, appears to relate to excessive
chromium in the primary gamma prime and surrounding matrix areas, first
reacting with carbon to form grain boundary M.sub.23 C.sub.6 carbides. Then
when all the available carbon is thus reacted, it appears that excessive
chromium in the matrix combines with such elements as Co, Mo, etc. to form a
Cr-Co-Mo type sigma. Long time stability testing such as at 1,500° F. at a
stress of 55, 000 p.s.i. identifies the strength-reducing nature of sigma
phase. The terminal nature of such sigma phase has been reported by Boesch and
Slaney in Metals Progress, July 1964, pages 109-111.
Although sigma phase may be removed by heat
treatment, it will recur when the alloy experiences the same time and
temperature conditions under which sigma was originally formed. The alloy of
the present invention identifies a different kind of alloy which inhibits
original sigma phase formation and results in the improved combination of
higher temperature strength and stability along with hot corrosion resistance
as a result of a different surface reaction product.
In order to understand more fully the present
invention and its individual components as they affect the strength and
stability of the alloy of the present invention, the following tables have been
prepared. These compare the alloy forms both within and outside the scope of
the present invention, as shown in full compositions in tables I and II. The
element content referred to in the tables as well as throughout this
specification is in weight percent and the term "ksi" refers to
thousands of pounds per square inch. ##SPC3##
As shown in table III, in the alloy of the
present invention, cobalt below about 15 weight percent does not lead to the
formation of sigma phase. Although at 15 percent Co, a small amount of sigma is
beginning to form, this can be tolerated as the upper limit because the
strength and stability characteristics have been reduced only a slight amount.
However, above about 15 weight percent, excessive sigma will form resulting in
a different kind of alloy of reduced properties. Because the alloy formed at 5
percent Co was significantly weaker than desired, the higher temperature tests
were not run.
With respect to the chromium variation shown
in table III, the detrimental effect of the formation of heavy amounts of sigma
on longtime stability is shown by alloy 14 at 15.6 percent Cr. The
identification of large amounts of sigma shows alloy 14 to be of a different
kind than that of alloy 6 within the scope of the present invention. Alloy 15
at 13 percent Cr and only 0.9 percent lower than alloy 6, shows a reduction in
strength even though all the elements of alloy 15 are within the range of the
present invention. Therefore, the alloy of the present invention includes less
than 15.6 percent but greater than 13 percent Cr.
With respect to the carbon variation in table
III, it can be noted that at 0.08 percent C, insufficient carbon is present to
react with Cr within the range of the present invention to prevent Cr from
forming sigma platelets. The reduction in long time stability as represented by
the 1,500° F. tests should be noted in this regard. Although amounts of carbon
approaching about 0.3 percent can be included, it is preferred that carbon at
about 0.2 weight percent be maintained in order to assure the unusually fine
properties of the preferred form of the alloy of the present invention.
Although the elements W and Mo have been
included in known nickel-base alloys singly or interchangeably as
solution-strengthening elements, the present invention recognizes additional
critical roles played by these two elements. Both are involved in the complex
control of precipitating carbides and sigma phase formations, although Mo is a
more potent sigma phase former. The following table IV shows the effect and
interrelationship of these elements on the alloy of the present invention.
##SPC4##
In alloy 19,even with Mo as high as 6.1
percent, there is insufficient strengthening to provide adequate
high-temperature stress rupture strength. More importantly, however, is the
fact that the total amount of Mo and W is sufficiently high to result in sigma
phase formation as measured by the atomic relationship between those elements
of (Mo w/2) of as high as the 7.6 percent The present invention contemplates
that relationship to be within the range of 5-7 percent to inhibit sigma phase
formation and precipitation of the proper carbides as described before. Alloy
20, a different kind of alloy and outside the scope of the present invention,
includes Mo and W within the invention range but with the improper relationship
one to the other as shown by the (Mo w/2) of 7.4 percent. The formation of
medium amounts of sigma resulted in significantly reduced stability as measured
by the 1,500. degree. F. stress rupture test. Alloy forms 6 and 9, within the
scope of the present invention, have the proper balance of W and Mo and are a
different kind of alloy because of the absence of the sigma structure. This
results in improved stability and strength.
In the above tables III and IV, it should be
noted that the alloy forms identified with numbers greater than 10 have
compositions within the range of the alloy of the present invention except for
the element variation listed, which in the case of alloy 19 is Mo and in the
case of alloy 20 is (MO W/2).
The elements Ti and A1 contribute to the alloy
of the present invention in several ways. This invention recognizes that the
proper amount and interrelationship between these elements can control the
short time strength, the alloy stability through sigma phase inhibition and,
very importantly, provide hot corrosion resistance. The problem of hot corrosion
resistance involves resistance to sulfidation in the range of about
1,500-1,800° F. Above and below that range, hot corrosion resistance is not as
significant a problem in the type of alloys to which the present invention
relates because such alloys include the element aluminum. Aluminum oxide which
forms on the surface as a reaction product will form a reasonably protective
oxidation resistant barrier. The problem of oxidation resistance is different
from that of hot corrosion resistance. Normally for oxidation resistance it
would be better to have a Ti/A1 ratio of greater than 1. The higher ratio is
desirable because TiO.sub.2 is formed on the surface. The more TiO.sub. 2
available, the better is the hot corrosion resistance. However, Ti in amounts
which would produce a Ti/A1 ratio of about 3:1 or more, cannot be tolerated in
the alloy of the present invention.
The effect of the elements A1 and Ti on the
alloy of the present invention as it relates to as-cast stress rupture life and
stability is shown in the following table V. ##SPC5##
Although alloys 5, 11 and 12 include about the
same amount of the sum of titanium and aluminum, it should be noted that alloy
5 forms no sigma phase whereas alloys 11 and 12 form medium to large amounts of
sigma phase. This can be attributed to the improper relationship between the
two elements. The fact that different kinds of alloys are formed between alloy
5 and alloys 11 and 12 is further substantiated by the stress rupture life,
particularly the stability data represented by the 1, 500. degree. F. tests.
Further, it should be noted that the alloy 13, although having the proper ratio
between Ti and A1, does not have sufficient amounts of these elements to
provide the required strength. Therefore, the alloy of the present invention
defines the relationship between Ti and A1 such that the sum of those elements
is in the range of about 7.5-9 percent and that the Ti/A1 ratio is greater than
one but less than 3:1.
One important characteristic of the alloy of
the present invention which distinguishes it from known alloys presently
intended for the same use is its significantly improved hot corrosion
resistance. A series of comparison tests to determine the hot corrosion
resistance of a variety of alloys was conducted on such known nickel base super
alloys as those listed in the following table VI. ##SPC6##
Because the alloys tested were intended for
use in a gas turbine engine, test apparatus simulating conditions in the
turbine section of a gas turbine was constructed. The apparatus burned jet
fuel, for example JP-5 in a 30-1 air-fuel mixture and injected sea water having
a composition within the range of ASTM specification D-665-60. The sea water
was diluted with distilled water to five parts per million. The tests run were
cyclic tests over a period of 1,000 hours including 18 intermittent colling
cycles to room temperature with an air blast. The specimens tested were cast
bars ground to a diameter of about 0.130 inch and about 1.25 inches long.
Results of such a comparative test are shown in the following table VII.
From table VII, it is easily seem that at all
temperatures tested, alloy 2 within the scope of the present invention is
remarkably more resistant to hot corrosion than are all of the other tested
known alloys, most of which are presently in use in the hot section of gas
turbine engines.
Another measure of hot corrosion resistance
involved a study of specimen weight loss rather than surface penetration or
thickness loss. Another series of tests resulting in data of which the date of
table VIII is a typical were performed on alloys both within and outside the
scope of the present invention.
Alloy 10 within the scope of the present
invention shows significant and remarkable resistance to weight loss after 500
hours at 1, 700° F. as compared with alloys known or outside the scope of the
present invention.
The significantly improved hot corrosion
resistance of the alloy of the present invention is based on the fact that it
is a different kind of alloy. Hence a different kind of reaction product is
formed on the surface of the alloy of the present invention under oxidizing
conditions than is formed on the surfaces of certain known nickel base alloys
intended for the same purpose. As an example of such difference, an X-ray
diffraction study was made on such surfaces after exposure for 400 hours at
elevated temperatures. The results of one such comparison is shown in the
following table IX. ##SPC7##
Alloy 2 within the scope of the present
invention and having a remarkable resistance to hot corrosion had a substantial
amount of TiO. sub.2 in its surface reaction product. Only a small amount of
that oxide is found in the reaction product of the alloy B. Thus the two alloys
are of a different kind.
Claims:
What is claimed is:
1. A cast nickel base alloy of improved
stability, strength and corrosion resistance, consisting essentially of, by
weight:
*
about 0.15-0.3 percent C, said carbon percentage being greater than that
required for deoxidation and in addition being sufficient for forming grain boundary
carbides;
*
greater than 13 percent but less than 15.6 percent Cr;
*
greater than 5 up to 15 percent Co;
*
2.5-5 percent Mo;
*
3-6 percent W;
*
4-6 percent Ti;
*
2-4 percent A1;
*
0.005-0.02 percent B;
* up
to about 0.1 percent Zr;
*
with the balance essentially nickel and incidental impurities the ratio
Ti/A1 being in the range of greater than 1:1 to less than 3:1;
*
the sum of Ti and A1 being in the range of 7.5-9 percent; and
*
the sum of Mo and half of the W being in the range of 5-7 percent; and
further characterized by the substantial absence of sigma phase and a stress
rupture life in the as-cast condition of at least about 25 hours under a stress
of 27,500 p.s.i. at 1,800° F.
2. The alloy of claim 1 in which:
*
the C is 0.15-0.2 percent;
*
the Cr is 13.5-14.5 percent;
*
the Co is 7.5-12.5 percent;
*
the Mo is 3.5-4.5 percent;
*
the W is 3.5-4.5 percent;
*
the Ti is 4.5-5.5 percent;
* the A1 is 2.5-3.5 percent;
*
the B is 0.01-0.02 percent;
*
the Zr is 0.005-0.1 percent; and
*
the Ti/A1 ratio is 1:1-2:1 .
3. The alloy of claim 2 in which:
*
the Cr is 13.7-14.3 percent;
*
the Co is 9-10 percent;
*
the Mo is 3.7-4.3 percent;
*
the W is 3.7-4.3 percent;
*
the Ti is 4.8-5.2 percent;
*
the A1 is 2.8-3.2 percent; and
*
the Zr is 0.02-0.04 percent.