Development of a high-efficiency Z-form selector for single crystal blades and corresponding grain selection mechanism

Abstract

Single crystal (SX) is widely used in modern turbine blades to improve the creep fracture, fatigue, oxidation, and coating properties of the turbine, so that the turbine engine has excellent performance and durability. In this paper, the single crystal super alloy MM247LC is used as the research material. The evolution of grain structure in a two-dimensional grain selector was studied by directional experiments, and the mechanism of grain selection in the two-dimensional channel during directional solidification was clarified. In order to optimize the production process of single crystal turbine blades, the effects of the geometrical structure of a Z-type separator (i.e., wire diameter and take-off angle) on the crystal orientation, microstructure, and grain efficiency of blades were discussed.