Recrystallization mechanisms and associated microstructure evolution during billet conversion of a gamma-gamma′ nickel based superalloy

A partially recrystallized sample of the Ni-based superalloy AD730 was taken from an intermediate stage of the ingot to billet conversion process and isothermally forged in a single stroke compression test at a sub-solvus temperature (1080 °C). The as-received material had a heterogeneous microstructure, containing a mixture of coarse and much finer recrystallized grains as well as unrecrystallized ones, and also heterogeneous γ′ precipitation. The recrystallization mechanisms occurring dynamically in the different grain populations were investigated via electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). It was found that local microstructure could affect the operative recrystallization mechanism, with different mechanisms seen in the deformed and recrystallized regions, owing to their different precipitate distributions. Within a single deformed grain, three apparently distinct dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms were identified. The interaction of recrystallization with precipitates plays a central role in DRX. In certain cases precipitates may stimulate discontinuous DRX by providing recrystallization nuclei, alternatively they may impede and limit the growth of recrystallized grains, or in other cases still they promote continuous recrystallization. •Recrystallisation mechanisms of a heterogeneous starting microstructure are characterised.•Different local microstructures lead to different recrystallisation mechanisms operating.•Different interactions between precipitates and recrystallisation processes are described.•All precipitates in recrystallised regions result from dissolution and reprecipitation.