Microstructure and Tensile Properties of a CoNi-Based Superalloy Fabricated by Selective Electron Beam Melting

Abstract

Successful application of selective electron beam melting to a novel CoNi-based superalloy named SB-CoNi-10 is demonstrated. Crack-free as-printed microstructures exhibit excellent ductilities above 30% and ultimate tensile strengths above 1.1 GPa at room temperature in tension. Conventional post-processing consisting of a super-solvus hot isostatic pressing (HIP), a solution heat treatment (SHT), and a low-temperature aging has been applied to remove microstructural inhomogeneities present in the as-printed microstructure. The microstructures of the as-printed and HIP+SHT+Aged alloys have been investigated to determine the effect of post-processing heat treatments on the nanoscale γ/γ′ microstructure and the mesoscale grain structure. Tensile tests have been conducted at room temperature and elevated temperatures above 850 ∘C to investigate mechanical properties in both the as-printed and HIP+SHT+Aged conditions. The high-temperature ductility and strength are strongly affected by the microstructure, with a mostly columnar-grained microstructure in the as-printed condition exhibiting superior ductility to the fully recrystallized microstructure in the HIP+SHT+Aged condition.