Investigation on hot workability and mechanical properties of modified IC-221M alloy

This paper explores the effects of solution treatment on hot workability and mechanical properties of a Ni3Al-based alloy named IC-221M. As-cast IC-221M alloy cracked during the hot working process. Optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed that cracks initiated and propagated through γ+Ni5Zr eutectic phase during hot working. This eutectic phase reduced remarkably after the heat treatment at 1100 °C for 20 h as revealed by the thermal analysis and SEM micrographs. The 20 h solution treated alloy could be hot worked without cracking even at such high strain rates as 100/s. Also, compressive yield strength of the solution treated alloy at temperatures above 700 °C was higher than that of the as-cast alloy.