Welding high-strength nickel base superalloys
AssigneeChromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation
InventorsRichard J. Stueber, Thomas Milidantri, Moshen Tadayon
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Abstract
A process is provided for welding a gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel base superalloy by heating the weld area and adjacent region to a ductile temperature, welding while maintaining the entire weld area and adjacent region at the ductile temperature and holding the weldment, weld area and adjacent region at the ductile temperature until the entire weld has solidified. The ductile temperature is above the aging temperature but below the incipient melting temperature of the superalloy.
Claims18
A welded gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel base superalloy wherein the superalloy and at least a portion of the weldment have a directionally solidified microstructure.
A crack-free welded superalloy product prepared by a process for welding an article comprised of a gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloy containing titanium and aluminum in a combined amount of at least about 5% and chromium in an amount up to about 20% comprising:
- heating the entire weld area and region adjacent to the weld of the article to a ductile temperature which is above the aging temperature and below the incipient melting temperature for said superalloy;
- welding the entire weld area while maintaining the entire weld area and adjacent region at said ductile temperature;
- holding the weldment, the entire weld area and adjacent region at said ductile temperature until the weld has solidified;
- cooling the welded article;
- and
- heat treating the welded article, wherein the superalloy has a directionally solidified microstructure and at least a significant portion of the weld of the welded article has a directionally solidified microstructure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.