Superlattice stacking fault formation and twinning during creep in γ/γ′ single crystal superalloy CMSX-4

This paper describes further insight which has been gained into the formation of deformation twins during high temperature creep in a high volume fraction single crystal superalloy (CMSX-4) and correlation with the nature of superlattice stacking faults also observed. In general it is found that the formation of high temperature twinning can always be associated with the loading orientation in which SESF formation is expected from a determination of the sign of the shear stress. One can rationalise the reason for this twinning being associated with extrinsic stacking faults, by consideration of the critical radius of stacking fault loop nucleation. In particular calculations at 1223 K demonstrate a minimum in radius being associated with four overlapping faulted planes for the extrinsic case. Although the process by which twin formation occurs has not been observed, it is shown that twin formation can take place by the passage of extrinsic stacking faults within the precipitate which operate on every alternate plane of the structure. If one considers formation to occur via a pole mechanism similar to that in a face centred cubic structure a mechanism for this occurrence is postulated due to the fact that climb of the helix structure as it rotates around a pair of suitable matrix dislocations, will amount to double that which occurs in the single pole case. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.