High strength nickel base superalloy articles having machined surfaces

Abstract: A high strength nickel base superalloy article having a machined surface is disclosed. The superalloy comprises, in weight percent, 1.2-3.5Al, 3.0-7.0Ti, 12.0-20.0Cr, 2.0-3.9Mo, 10.0.20.0Co, 0-4.5W, 0.005-0.025C, 0.005-0.05B, 0.01-0.1Zr, 0-0.005Mg, 0-1.0Ta, 0-1.0Nb, 0-2.0Fe, 0-0.3Hf, 0-0.02Y, 0-0.1V, 0-1.0Re, balance essentially Ni. The superalloy further comprises a plurality of discrete carbides essentially free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength.

Description: The invention relates to nickel base superalloy articles having machined surfaces. The superalloy articles possess superior low cycle fatigue strength and are particularly suited for gas turbine engine components such as shafts, disks, spacers and seals. Nickel base superalloys are commonly employed for gas turbine engine components such as shafts and disks. As a result of the demand for improved performance and efficiency, the components of a modem gas turbine engine operate near the limit of their properties with respect to temperature, stress, and oxidation/corrosion. Due to these aggressive operating environments, the superalloy materials from which the components are made must possess a combination of exceptional properties including high strength capability at elevated temperatures and rotational speeds. In particular, nickel base superalloy articles suitable for components such as shafts and disks must possess superior low cycle fatigue strength because repeated cycling between full engine power and idle induces a cycle of thermomechanical stress within the engine. Such superalloy articles must possess superior low cycle fatigue strength in order to withstand such conditions. Superalloy articles for components such as disks are typically machined to bring them to finished geometry. For example, billet material or a forged component may be inserted into a lathe wherein a tool insert removes layers of superalloy material, while the component spins, until the correct geometry or diameter is achieved. A problem, however, with some prior art machined disks, particularly lathe turned disks using tungsten carbide tool inserts, is that they display low cycle fatigue failures at relatively low lives, under testing conditions. Accordingly, there exists a need for machined nickel base superalloy articles having superior low cycle fatigue strength. A modified waspaloy composition for such shafts and disks is described in US 5 120 373. It is also know from Q. Huang and Jing Xin Ren: "Surface integrity and its effects on the fatigue life of nickel based superalloy Gtt 33A", Internat. Journal fatigue, July 1991, pages 322 to 3. That machining surface irregularities have an effect on low cycle fatigue strength. It has been found that the low cycle fatigue strength of tungsten carbide turned nickel base superalloy materials suitable for components such as disks (i.e. cast/wrought superalloys) is limited by microstructural damage to the surface and near surface of the superalloy article which occurs during the machining process. For example, during the lathe turning process, the carbide tool insert damages the primary MC carbides thereby resulting in microstructural and residual stress damage to the surface and near surface of the article. Testing has shown that this microstructural damage is responsible for initiating low cycle fatigue failures at relatively low lives. MC carbides typically form in the melt when the material is between its solidus and liquidus temperature range. The M stands for one or more types of metal atoms, including but not limited to, titanium and molybdenum; C represents the carbon present in the carbide. The presence of refractory elements such as molybdenum and titanium in combination with carbon lead to the natural occurrence of MC carbides in cast/wrought superalloys. Due to the high temperature of MC carbide formation, these carbides cannot be eliminated or modified through heat treatment practices. A characteristic of the MC carbides is their tendency to be present in linear arrays of individual carbide particles known as carbide stringers after forging. Carbide stringers act to increase the effective size of the individual particles which in turn has a negative impact on low cycle fatigue life properties. In accordance with the invention, a machined surface of a hot deformed nickel base superalloy article possessing an exceptional combination of properties, particularly low cycle fatigue strength is disclosed. The composition of the nickel base superalloy article is, in weight percent, 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 3.0Mo, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.001-0.005Mg, balance Ni and unavoidable impurities. The nickel base superalloy further comprises a plurality of discrete MC carbides where M is predominantly titanium and C is carbon, free from. molybdenum for increased fatigue strength. The superalloy is also free of carbide stringers. The machined surface of the nickel base superalloy article is further characterized by the presence of minimal damage during conventional tungsten carbide lathe turning. According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of increasing the fatigue strength of a hot deformed nickel base superalloy article having a machined surface, said method comprising the steps of: providing a nickel base superalloy composition, said composition comprising, in weight percent, 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.001-0.005Mg, balance Ni and unavoidable impurities; adding, in weight percent, 3.0Mo, thereby forming a final composition; heat treating the final composition to form an article; and machining the surface of the article, said article being characterised by being free of carbide stringers and by the presence of a plurality of discrete MC carbides, where M is predominantly titanium and C is carbon, which are free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength. The subject invention is based in part on the following findings and observations: Eliminating molybdenum from the carbides of the above superalloy results in significant improvements in low cycle fatigue life because during machining of the superalloy article, particularly during tungsten carbide lathe turning, such molybdenum-free carbides are not excessively damaged and do not cause premature low cycle fatigue failure of the article. Molybdenum's adverse effect on low cycle fatigue strength based on its presence in carbides of wrought superalloys has never before been known or appreciated. This is a significant finding An advantage of the invention is that superalloy articles made therefrom possess excellent low cycle fatigue strength. Yet another advantage of the invention is that ingots made from the superalloy material of the invention can be fabricated in various size diameters such as diameters greater than or equal to 24 inches (0.61m) thus allowing for the production of large size gas turbine engine hardware such as disks. This is a significant advantage because ingots fabricated from some prior art wrought superalloy materials have a maximum diameter of 20 inches(0.51m) before casting defects occur and thus they cannot be employed for production of large size gas turbine engine hardware. The present invention will now be discussed by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a Weibull Chart depicting the low cycle fatigue strength of the present invention compared to the low cycle fatigue strength of a prior art alloy. In accordance with the invention, a nickel base superalloy article is disclosed. The article possesses an exceptional combination of properties and has a machined surface. The terms "machined surface" herein refer to a surface of an article which has been processed to, for example, a desired shape or geometry; mechanical processing may be employed. Machining processes include, but are not limited to, lathe turning, milling and broaching. The compositional range of the nickel base superalloy article, in weight percent, is 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 3.0Mo, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.001-0.005Mg, balance Ni and unavoidable impurities. Superalloy articles of the invention may be conventionally fabricated. Preferably, the articles are fabricated as follows: A casting of the desired composition is made by vacuum induction melting followed by vacuum arc remelting. The cast material is then preferably processed in accordance with one of two primary schemes or combination thereof, as described in U.S. Patent 5,120,373. As described in the '373 patent, according to one scheme, the cast material is deformed at elevated temperatures but below the gamma prime solvus so that gamma prime phase dissolution is minimized or even eliminated. Subsolvus anneals or reheat treatments may be employed to maintain billet temperature, affect recrystallization, while avoiding or minimizing gamma prime phase dissolution. In addition, super-solvus anneals or reheat treatments may be employed to produce extensive or complete gamma prime phase dissolution in conjunction with extensive or complete recrystalization. The total amount of work required will be equivalent to that required to produce at least 0.5 and preferably at least 0.9 cumulative true strain. This cumulative true strain may be obtained from combined hot deformation operations including upsetting and drawing. During upsetting an average strain rate of at least about 0.1 in/in/min. (1.6x10 -3 s -1 ) is preferred. During drawing an average strain rate of at least about 0.5/in/in/min. (8.3x10 -3 s -1 ) is preferred. To perform this amount of work on a cast superalloy material at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus, it will undoubtedly be necessary to use multiple deformation steps with intermediate anneals above the gamma prime solvus, to prevent cracking. As also described in U.S. Patent 5,120,373, the material may alternately be hot worked at a temperature above the gamma prime solvus. It is also possible to accomplish this initial hot working operation using a combination of steps above and below the gamma prime solvus in conjunction with appropriate combinations of intermediate hypersolvus or supersolvus treatments. After the material has been deformed an amount in excess of 0.5 cumulative true strain, it is given an overage treatment to produce a significantly enlarged gamma prime particle size over that which would normally be present. The resultant microstructure is termed "overaged." The overaging process is similar to that which is described in U.S. Patent 4,574,015. The overaging process consists of cooling the material at a rate of less than about 100°F (56°C) and preferably 50°F (28°C) per hour, (and most preferably less than 20°F (11°C) per hour) through the gamma prime solvus. The resultant coarsened gamma prime particle size will be in excess of 1µm and preferably in excess of 2µm. This overaged material is then further hot deformed an amount in excess of that required to produce a cumulative true strain of 0.9, and preferably a true cumulative strain of at least 1.6. This strain does not include that undergone before the overage treatment. A strain rate of at least about 0.1 in/in/min (1.6x10 -3 s -1 ) is employed. This further deformation is accomplished below the gamma prime solvus (but within 200°F (111°C)) and without intermediate anneals. Intermediate anneals may be performed at temperatures below but within 200°F (111°C) of the gamma prime solvus temperature. The resultant material, as processed in accordance with the above description, will have an exceptionally fine grain size, predominately finer than ASTM grain size 10 and preferably on the order of ASTM 12 or finer. Alternatively, an alloy of desired composition may be conventionally processed to have a coarser grain structure, for example, of approximately ASTM 3-7 such as that employed for the commercial alloy known as Waspaloy (nominal composition, in weight percent, of 19.5Cr, 13.5Co, 4.2Mo, 3.0Ti, 1.4Al, 0.05C, 0.007B, 0.05 Zr, bal Ni). The volume fraction of gamma prime present in the alloy of the present invention is between 35-45 percent, depending upon the amount of aluminium and titanium employed in the composition. The inventive material also includes a plurality of discrete MC carbides. The diameter of the discrete carbides may be between about 0.0005 inches (12.7µm) and about 0.0025 inches (63.5µm). Diameters on the order of between about 0.0006 inches (15.2µm) and about 0.0007 inches (17.8µm) may often be present. The resultant material is further characterized by an absence of carbide stringers. Applicant has found that the composition, size and morphology of the MC carbides have a profound impact on fatigue strength. More specifically, the Applicant has discovered how to significantly improve the low cycle fatigue strength of a wrought nickel base superalloy by controlling the amount of molybdenum in the MC carbides such that the MC carbides are essentially free from molybdenum. Molybdenum's adverse effect on low cycle fatigue strength based on its presence in MC carbides of wrought nickel base superalloys has never before been known or appreciated. This is a significant find. Specifically, the Applicant has determined that by limiting the amount of molybdenum in the superalloy composition to 3.0 weight percent, molybdenum free-carbides result. Such molybdenum-free carbides are not excessively damaged during conventional tungsten carbide lathe turning to point of causing premature failure of the article. Applicant has also determined that in addition to controlling the amount of molybdenum present in the MC carbides, the amount of carbon must also be controlled such that discrete carbides form, as opposed to detrimental carbide stringers. This is possible by controlling the amount of carbon in the superalloy composition to 0.015 weight percent. As a result of the invention, discrete carbides of carbon and predominantly titanium result. EXAMPLE 1 A nickel base superalloy material known as PWA 1113 (nominal composition, in weight percent, of 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 16.3Cr, 4.2Mo, 13.5Co, 0.032C, 0.006B, 0.07Zr, 0.0025Mg balance Ni) and regarded as among the best prior art high strength, nickel base superalloys used for components such as shafts, seals and disks was processed in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 5,120,373. The superalloy material of the invention (2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 3Mo, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.0025Mg, bal Ni) was also processed by method disclosed therein. The surfaces of the samples were lathe turned using a tungsten carbide tool insert and each sample was subjected to a low cycle fatigue test at 600°F/10cpm/140ksi (333°C/0.167 cycles s -1 /965 MPa). The results are shown in FIG. 1 which is a Weibull Chart depicting probability of failure of the samples vs. kilocycles to failure. As shown in FIG. 1, the material lasted approximaely 11,000 cycles longer than that of the prior art which is regarded as among the best prior art high strength, nickel base superalloys used for components such as shafts, seals and disks. This significant improvement in low cycle fatigue is attributed primarily to the absence of molybdenum in the MC carbides of the inventive machined surface which was not damaged during the lathe turning. An advantage of the invention is that the operating stress on components fabricated from the invention can be raised approximately five percent while maintaining the same cyclic fatigue life as the prior art alloy. A corresponding reduction in component weight may then also be achieved. EXAMPLE 2 The superalloy material of the invention, as described in Example 1, was subjected to conventional ultimate tensile strength testing at various temperatures. This material exhibited high strength, as detailed in Table 1 below. Temperature (°F) Strength (ksi) room temp. 230 (1.58 GPa) 600 (333°C) 220 (1.52 GPa) 900 (500°C) 220 (1.52 GPa) 1200 (667°C) 200 (1.38 GPa) An advantage of the invention is that superalloy articles of the invention comprise a plurality of discrete carbides essentially free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength. Applicant has discovered that a significant improvement in low cycle fatigue strength can be obtained if molybdenum is essentially eliminated from the carbides. Molybdenum's adverse effect on low cycle fatigue strength in machined articles has never before been appreciated or understood. Thus, the present invention provides a machined surface of a nickel base superalloy article which is suitable for hot deformed gas turbine engine components such as shafts and disks,wherein the machined surface is not damaged during conventional tungsten carbide lathe turning such that the article of finished geometry possesses superior low cycle fatigue strength.

Claims: A hot deformed nickel base superalloy article having a machined surface, said superalloy article comprising a composition, in weight percent, of 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 3.0MO, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.001-0.005Mg, balance Ni and unavoidable impurities, said superalloy article being free of carbide stringers and further comprising a plurality of discrete MC carbides, where M is predominantly titanium and C is carbon, which are free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength. A method of increasing the fatigue strength of a hot deformed nickel base superalloy article having a machined surface, said method comprising the steps of: providing a nickel base superalloy composition, said composition comprising, in weight percent, 2.2Al, 4.6Ti, 15.5Cr, 13.5Co, 0.015C, 0.015B, 0.04Zr, 0.001-0.005Mg, balance Ni and unavoidable impurities; adding, in weight percent, 3.0Mo, thereby forming a final composition; heat treating the final composition to form an article; and machining the surface of the article, said article being characterised by being free of carbide stringers and by the presence of a plurality of discrete MC carbides, where M is predominantly titanium and C is carbon, which are free from molybdenum for increased fatigue strength.

Inventors: MALLEY DAVID R, MALLEY, DAVID R.
Applicants: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C22C19
IPC codes: C22F1, C22C19