Microstructural analysis of laser-beam-welded directionally solidified INCONEL 738

The laser welding of a directionally solidified INCONEL 738 superalloy (DS IN738) was investigated. Microstructural analysis of the fusion zone (FZ) and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) revealed that cracking occurred mainly in HAZ with only some cracks being extended into the FZ. However, the frequently observed centerline cracking in FZ of DS and single crystal (SX) alloys did not occur, which was attributed to the presence of negligible volume fraction of eutectic in FZ. Constitutional liquation of secondary solidification constituents (MC carbides, M3B2 borides, M2SC sulphocarbides, and gamma-gamma' eutectic) and gamma' precipitate particles was found to be the major cause of grain boundary liquation and the resultant intergranular microfissuring in the HAZ. The extent of HAZ microfissuring was, however, observed to be smaller in samples welded along the transverse direction (perpendicular to solidification direction) than when welding was done along the longitudinal direction (solidification direction). Nonetheless, more severe HAZ cracking occurred in samples of similarly welded conventionally cast (CC) alloy, and the present results indicate that the severity of HAZ liquation cracking in IN738 superalloy can be reduced by using a DS version of the alloy.