Characterization of the microstructure evolution of Ni-based superalloy at liquidus temperature by electromagnetic field

Abstract

The effect of isothermal treatment temperatures and isothermal treatment time on the microstructure was studied. The results showed that the globular and equiaxed grains with the average grain size of 60 µm and the shape factor of circle of 0.95 can be obtained when the melt of Ni-Cr-W superalloy was subjected to the heat treatment of 10 min at 1400°C. The quenching results showed the volume fraction of the eutectic phase was the largest and the volume fraction of primary γ phase was the smallest after the isothermal treatment of 1400°C. The optimal melt treatment temperature and time were 1400°C and 10 min, respectively. Moreover, the effect of electromagnetic field on the solidification was also investigated. It was demonstrated that applying electromagnetic field was beneficial to the uniform temperature, solute field and the high density of the secondary nuclei, which contributed to grain refinement.