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Title: Characterization of a Nickel-base
Superalloy through Electrical Resistivity-Microstructure Relationships
Facilitated by Small Angle Scattering
Abstract: Nickel-base superalloys are used in the hot sections of gas turbine engines due
to their excellent high temperature strength and creep resistance. These high
temperature mechanical properties are induced in the superalloy engine
components by forming nanometer scale precipitate phases within the material
via heat treatment. The precipitate microstructure continues to evolve with
thermal exposure, resulting in evolving mechanical properties during service as
well as variability during component fabrication. Electrical resistivity
testing is sensitive to certain microstructural changes that occur during the
precipitation process, such as precipitate nucleation, solute removal, and
increases in dislocation density. This project quantifies the effects of the
precipitate microstructure on the electrical response of Waspaloy (a
polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy used in disc rotors) through DC
electrical resistivity testing and a variety of volumetric scattering
experiments. The microstructural models created in this project could
eventually allow for the electrical resistivity of the material to be used as a
non-destructive test for monitoring the precipitate microstructure (and thus
the mechanical properties) of the engine components. Such non-destructive
testing will be useful for monitoring the mechanical properties of these
components during service and also for minimizing component variability during
fabrication.
