TaC Precipitation Kinetics During Cooling of Co−Re‐Based Alloys

Cobalt−rhenium (Co−Re) alloys are developed for high‐temperature applications at ≈1200 °C and are strengthened by dispersion of nanosized tantalum carbide (TaC) precipitates. Herein, the precipitation behavior during cooling from supersolution depending on the cooling rate and the addition of chromium is presented. The phase composition (matrix phases and TaC) is analyzed from the wide‐angle neutron diffraction patterns measured in situ during temperature cycling. The precipitation of nanosized TaC particles is measured by in situ and ex situ neutron and X‐ray small‐angle scattering. The in situ measurements are used to extract the temperature‐dependent volume fraction of the precipitates; the final size distribution after cooling is extracted from the ex situ measurements. A Kampmann−Wagner's numerical (KWN) model is adapted to isochronal cooling processes. The in situ measurements give the unique possibility to calibrate the model parameters, whereas the ex situ measurements are used to assess the model predictions. The precipitation of nanosized tantalum carbide (TaC) particles in cobalt‐rhenium (CoRe) alloys with and without chromium is monitored in situ with neutron and X‐ray scattering techniques. The precipitation occurs simultaneously to a phase transition of the matrix. Size and volume fraction of the particles are analysed with a modified Kampmann Wagner's numerical (KWN) model to describe isochronic cooling processes.