Effect of Mo:W ratio on segregation behavior and creep strength of nickel-based single crystal superalloys

In past decades, molybdenum (Mo) has demonstrated the potential to replace tungsten (W) in designing lighter nickel-based single crystal superalloys with enhanced creep resistance. In this research, three groups of nickel-based single crystal superalloys are designed and prepared by tuning the Mo:W ratio. The experimental observations show that the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings are both independent on Mo:W ratio, but the γ/γ′ eutectic volume fraction decreases as Mo:W ratio increases. The electron probe microanalysis reveals that Re, W and Co segregate to dendrite core regions, while Al, Ti, Cr, Mo and Ta to interdendritic regions. The microsegregation of Ta, W and Re are gradually relieved with increasing Mo:W ratio. Atom probe tomography results further indicate that Cr and Mo are depleted in γ/γ′ eutectics, leading to the enrichment of Cr and Mo at interdendritic regions away from γ/γ′ eutectics. Creep rupture results show that the rupture life at 1040 °C/145 MPa is improved as Mo:W ratio increases.