Precipitation behavior of μ phase and creep rupture in single crystal superalloy CMSX-4

Precipitation behavior of a topologically close packed (TCP) mu phase as well as its role during the creep deformation in single crystal superalloy CMSX-4 have been investigated. The mu particles nucleated and grew based on low index planes of both the mu phase ({11 (2) over bar 0} and {1 0 (1) over bar0}) and the matrix ({110}, {001} or {111} and {112}) by epitaxial growth toward < 0001 >(mu) or < 110 >gamma directions, which predominantly resulted in a rod-like morphology. Interestingly, composition of these rod-like mu particles varied with the ratio of Ni/(W + Re) due to the different diffusion rates of these elements in the matrix during thermal exposure. Moreover, the gamma' evolution played an important role in the precipitation behavior and the fracture behavior of the mu phase. The rod-like mu particles were not fractured by stress concentration, as they were surrounded by the gamma' envelope. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.