Hot deformation behavior and flow stress modeling of a Ni-based superalloy

The deformation behavior of a novel Ni-based superalloy was investigated using isothermal compression on a Gleeble system at temperatures between 1050 and 1210 degrees C with strain rates between 0.001 and 0.1 s(-1). Flow-stress curves and electron backscatter diffraction maps were employed to experimentally identify the various flow mechanisms operative during deformation. Deformation at temperatures below 1130 degrees C presented strong work hardening with limited restoration during dynamic softening leading to partially recrystallized microstructures. Increasing the deformation temperature to and above 1130 degrees C enhanced the driving force for dislocation and grain boundary mobility thereby enabling dynamic recovery (DRV) and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms to better operate. The influence of the strain rate was more evident during deformation at these temperatures. Increasing the strain rate from 0.001 s(-1) to 0.1 s(-1) resulted in a transition in dominant softening mechanism from DRY to DRX. Flow stress modeling using the Zener-Hollomon parameter was performed to obtain the activation energy and the constitutive equation for hot deformation of the alloy. Strong changes in flow behavior affected the accuracy of the flow stress model, and thus, the model was used alternatively to identify deformation parameters associated with various flow regimes. In doing so, the activation energy and the other equation constants were obtained for each deformation mechanism observed experimentally.