Integrated TEM/transmission-EBSD for recrystallization analysis in nickel-based disc superalloy

Turbine discs in gas-turbine engines always experience high-temperature and high-stress environment. Extensive investigations have been performed towards achieving high performance. Deformation behaviors and degradation factors above normal service temperature are important to be comprehensively understood for further development and optimization of turbine disc superalloys. In this study, the low cycle fatigue behaviors were investigated under total strain amplitude control in U720Li disc superalloys. The results revealed that with the increasing strain, the number of dislocation increased and dislocation configuration transferred from pile-up at the matrix/γ′ precipitates interfaces to penetrating into γ′ precipitates. The great extent of recrystallization was found above the normal service temperature through transmission-EBSD combined with TEM analysis. The low cycle fatigue property above the normal service temperature was weakened to a large extent after recrystallization of small-angle grains formed by the dislocation substructures and movements. Large extent of local recrystallization could also provide much more sites for the crack initiation and propagation. [Display omitted] •T-EBSD combined with TEM was performed to analyze detailed microstructure exactly.•Deformation and degradation behaviors above service temperature were investigated.•Recrystallization caused LCF property degradation significantly at 725 °C.