This study used optical and scanning electron microscopy to analyze the surface oxidation phenomenon that accompanies a γ'-precipitate free zone in a directional solidified CM247LC high temperature creep specimen. Surface oxidation occurs on nickel-based superalloy gas turbine blades due to high temperature during use. Among the superalloy components, Al and Cr are greatly affected by diffusion and movement, and Al is a major component of the surface oxidation products. This out-diffusion of Al was accompanied by γ' (Ni3Al) deficiency in the matrix, and formed a γ'-precipitate free zone at the boundary of the surface oxide layer. Among the components of CM247LC, Cr and Al related to surface oxidation consist of 8 % and 5.6 %, respectively. When Al, the main component of the γ' precipitation phase, diffused out to the surface, a high content of Cr was observed in these PFZs. This is because the PFZ is made of a high Cr γ phase. Surface oxidation of DS CM247LC was observed in high temperature creep specimens, and γ'-rafting occurred due to stress applied to the creep specimens. However, the stress states applied to the grip and gauge length of the creep specimen were different, and accordingly, different γ'-rafting patterns were observed. Such surface oxidation and PFZ and γ'-rafting are shown to affect CM247LC creep lifetime. Mapping the microstructure and composition of major components such as Al and Cr and their role in surface oxidation, revealed in this study, will be utilized in the development of alloys to improve creep life.

High-temperature oxidation of a Ni-based superalloy was analyzed with samples taken from gas turbine blades, where the samples were heat-treated and thermally exposed. The effect of Cr/Ti/Al elements in the alloy on high temperature oxidation was investigated using an optical microscope, SEM/EDS, and TEM. A high-Cr/high-Ti oxide layer was formed on the blade surface under the heat-treated state considered to be the initial stage of high-temperature oxidation. In addition, a PFZ (γ’ precipitate free zone) accompanied by Cr carbide of Cr23C6 and high Cr-Co phase as a kind of TCP precipitation was formed under the surface layer. Pits of several μm depth containing high-Al content oxide was observed at the boundary between the oxide layer and PFZ. However, high temperature oxidation formed on the thermally exposed blade surface consisted of the following steps: ① Ti-oxide formation in the center of the oxide layer, ② Cr-oxide formation surrounding the inner oxide layer, and ③ Al-oxide formation in the pits directly under the Cr oxide layer. It is estimated that the Cr content of Ni-based superalloys improves the oxidation resistance of the alloy by forming dense oxide layer, but produced the σ or μ phase of TCP precipitation with the high-Cr component resulting in material brittleness.

In this study, defects generated in the YSZ coating layer of the IN738LC turbine blade are investigated using an optical microscope and SEM/EDS. The blade YSZ coating layer is composed of a Y-Zr component top coat layer and a Co component bond coat layer. A large amount of Cr/Ni component that diffused from the base is also measured in the bond coat. The blade hot corrosion is concentrated on the surface of the concave part, accompanied by separation of the coating layer due to the concentration of combustion gas collisions here. In the top coating layer of the blade, cracks occur in the vertical and horizontal directions, along with pits in the top coating layer. Combustion gas components such as Na and S are contained inside the pits and cracks, so it is considered that the pits/cracks are caused by the corrosion of the combustion gases. Also, a thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer of several μm thick composed of Al oxide is observed between the top coat and the bond coat, and a similar inner TGO with a thickness of several μm is also observed between the bond coat and the matrix. A PFZ (precipitate free zone) deficient in γ' (Ni3Al) forms as a band around the TGO, in which the Al component is integrated. Although TGO can resist high temperature corrosion of the top coat, it should also be considered that if its shape is irregular and contains pore defects, it may degrade the blade high temperature creep properties. Compositional and microstructural analysis results for hightemperature corrosion and TGO defects in the blade coating layer used at high temperatures are expected to be applied to sound YSZ coating and blade design technology.

The effect of solidification rate on micro-segregation in investment casting of IN738LC superalloy was studied. In Ni-based superalloys, the micro-segregation of solute atoms is formed due to limited diffusion during cast and solidification. The microstructure of cast Ni-based superalloys is largely divided into dendrite core of initial solidification and interdendrite of final solidification. In particular, mosaic shaped eutectic γ/γ’ and carbides are formed in the interdendrite of the final solidification region in some cases. The micro-segregation phenomena formed in regions of dendrite core and interdendrite including eutectic γ/γ’ and carbides were analyzed using OM, SEM/EDS and micro Vickers hardness. As a result of analysis, the lack of (Cr, W) and the accumulation of Ti were measured in the eutectic γ/γ’, and the accumulation of (Cr, Mo) and the lack of Ti were measured in the interdendrite between dendrite and eutectic. Carbides formed in interdendritic region were composed of (Ti, W, Mo, C). The segregation applied to each microstructure is mainly due to the formation of γ’ with Ni3(Al,Ti) composition. The Ni accumulation accompanied by Cr depletion, and the Ti accumulated in the eutectic region as a γ’ forming elements. The Mo tends to diffuse out from the dendrite core to the interdendrite, and the W diffuse out from the interdendrite to the dendrite core. Therefore, the accumulation of Mo in the interdendrite and the deficiency of W occur in the eutectic region located in the interdendrite. Heat treatment makes the degree of the micro-segregation decrease due to the diffusion during solid solution. This study could be applied to the heat treatment technology for the micro-segregation control in cast Ni-based superalloys.