Process for strengthen grain boundaries of an article made from a Ni based superalloy
AssigneeALSTOM Technology Ltd
InventorsSteffen Müller, Joachim Rösler
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Abstract
It is disclosed a method for strengthen the grain boundaries of an article (1) made from a Ni based superalloy while the article (1) is in the solid state and containing at least one grain boundary. A surface diffusion process is applied to the article (1) to enrich the at least one grain boundary with grain boundary strengthening elements of one or a combination of boron, hafnium, zirconium without forming brittle precipitates like borides or carbides.
Claims9
A method for strengthening grain boundaries of a single crystal or a directionally solidified article made from a Ni based superalloy while the article is in a solid state after casting and containing at least one grain boundary or a casting defect with at least one grain boundary, the method comprising the step of:
- (a) applying a surface diffusion process to a surface of the article, thereby
- (b) diffusing grain boundary strengthening elements of one or a combination of boron, hafnium, zirconium along the at least one grain boundary of the article to enrich the at least one grain boundary with said grain boundary strengthening elements without forming precipitates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.