The influence of Ta on the solidification microstructure and segregation behavior of γ(Ni)/γ′(Ni3Al)–δ(Ni3Nb) eutectic Ni-base superalloys

Polycrystalline γ/γ′–δ eutectic Ni-base superalloys based on the Ni–Al–Nb alloy system were recently demonstrated to possess excellent high temperature strength and creep resistance. Investigations aimed to establish the fundamental relationships between alloy chemistry, solidification behavior and cast microstructure in these novel Ni–Al–Nb γ/γ′–δ alloy systems are currently underway. This particular study is focused on understanding the influence of Ta additions on the solidification sequence, phase volume fraction, distribution coefficient and solid state partitioning parameter of this eutectic alloy system by systematically investigating a series of experimental alloys with nominally constant overall levels of Ta + Nb content but varying Ta/Nb ratios. Although many of the tendencies observed in these multi-component γ/γ′–δ eutectic alloys are in agreement with trends observed in lower order model alloy systems, Ta additions were found to significantly modify solidification characteristics of the alloys. The experimental observations were also used to critically assess the predictive capability of thermodynamic database calculations. Despite the qualitative agreement observed between the experimental results and predictions for relatively simple quaternary and quinary model alloys, comparison of the results for higher order, multi-component γ/γ′–δ eutectic alloys reveals notable differences.

► Ta and Nb have a nominally identical influence on equilibrium δ volume fraction.
► Ta and Nb impact the sequence and segregation differently during solidification.
► Microstructure varies with both overall Ta + Nb level and Ta/Nb ratio.
► Pandat (PanNi7) is unable to predict trends quantitatively in this system.