Creep behaviour and microstructure of Ni-Cr base alloys

AbstractThe creep behaviour of a series of alloys based on IN 597 (Nimonic 101) and with varying volume fractions of γ′ precipitate has been studied at 800°C in the standard condition of heat treatment and for two grain sizes. In order to assess the long-term structural stability of alloys of this type, which have high contents of Cr, creep tests were also carried out on material overaged for 5000 and 10000 h at 850°C. Optical and electron metallography have been used to examine the microstructural characteristics of the materials. The results show a consistent pattern of increasing creep resistance with increasing volume fraction of γ′ precipitate, although the effect was more significant in the coarse grained material. After overaging, the creep resistance and the life to rupture of the alloys were reduced, and acicular particles, believed to be γ′ phase, were observed in the microstructure. Some limitations of current mechanisms describing dislocation–particle interactions are discussed with respect to...