Evolution behavior of liquid film in the heat-affected zone of laser cladding non-weldable nickel-based superalloy

Laser cladding with a paraxial powder-feeding device was used to repair as-cast K447A nickel-based superalloy, a kind of non-weldable alloy with a high Hf content and working as gas-turbine hot-section components. In the present study, the metallurgical evolution behavior of liquid film and liquation cracking mechanisms are studied. The results showed that a kind of uncommon Ni21Hf8 phase was found in the incipient melting regions (IMR) of the intergranular region. In the thermal cycle, gamma/Ni21Hf8 eutectic liquefaction, M5B3 dissolved, and gamma/gamma' eutectic liquefaction successively occurred in the heating process in IMR, and liquid -> gamma + gamma/gamma' + M5B3 + gamma/Ni21Hf8 -> gamma + gamma'((3)) + gamma/gamma' + gamma/Ni21Hf8 + M5B3 occurred in the cooling process. The inhomogeneity of the intergranular structure leads to the liquid film with the characteristics of discontinuous distribution and uneven width. The cracking criterion of the liquid film was established based on pressure drop. When the closed liquid film meets the condition of 2 gamma(st) < 1/K*((rho(s)/rho(t)/ - 1)*R*dt + Delta h(epsilon)), the liquid film with a thickness that is greater than critical thickness will be induced into a liquation cracking. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Laser cladding was used to repair non-weldable as-cast K447A nickel-based superalloy, and the study focused on the metallurgical evolution of liquid film and liquation cracking mechanisms. The results showed the presence of an uncommon Ni21Hf8 phase in the incipient melting regions, and the cracking criterion of the liquid film was established based on pressure drop.