Use of elevated pressures for reducing cracks in superalloy welding and cladding

A turbine component selected from the group consisting of turbine blades and turbine vanes, having a superalloy substrate and crack-free weld zone having a first ductility by:

• placing a superalloy component substrate in an isostatic pressure chamber;
• introducing superalloy filler material on a component superalloy substrate surface;
• introducing inert gas in the pressure chamber;
• applying isostatic pressure in the pressure chamber on the superalloy filler material and substrate that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
• focusing a laser beam on the filler material and substrate;
• transferring optical energy with the laser to the superalloy filler material and substrate in a weld zone that fuses the filler material to the substrate in the weld zone.

A method for welding superalloy components, comprising:

• placing a superalloy component substrate in an isolation chamber;
• introducing inert gas in the chamber;
• welding the substrate in the chamber and creating a weld zone;
• applying pressure directly on the weld zone that is greater than atmospheric pressure.