Compositional Optimisation of a Ni-based Superalloy for Additive Repair Applications
type: CreativeWork
description: The use of additive manufacturing (AM) for the fabrication of Ni-based alloys has seen a massive uptake in commercial institutions. Among their many merits, AM techniques offer a unique route for the repair of a wide range of complex components. However, processing of the Ni-based superalloys used by the aerospace industry through AM has encountered numerous issues. Certain complications can be resolved through intense post-processing. Although, such mitigation strategies are not appropriate for repaired material as intense heat-treatments might deteriorate substrate properties. Therefore, new methods are required to control and optimise the deposition of Ni-based superalloys. The commercial superalloy IN718 is currently used for certain AM repair applications. However, due to the limitations on the post-processing that may be tolerated, the complications of an irregular microstructure, an uncontrollable texture and severe elemental segregation remain unresolved for this system. In this thesis, the laser-blown-powder directed-energy-deposition (LBP-DED) of IN718 is characterised and novel methods for compositionally optimising the deposition of this system are investigated. It is shown that a Brass texture ({110} <211>) can be obtained in LBP-DED IN718. This texture is observed to be enhanced through recrystallisation following selected heat treatments. The evolution of elastic properties from the as-deposited state were studied as a function of heat treatment time and duration using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS). To control the crystallographic texture formed, the addition of niobium carbide (NbC) inoculant particles to the precursor powder was investigated. It was observed that the inoculants enhanced the formation of the Brass texture component, as well as leading to the occurrence of alternating regions possessing mirror symmetry. The addition of the inoculant therefore offers a method of achieving a degree of microstructural and textural control during…
abstract: The use of additive manufacturing (AM) for the fabrication of Ni-based alloys has seen a massive uptake in commercial institutions. Among their many merits, AM techniques offer a unique route for the repair of a wide range of complex components. However, processing of the Ni-based superalloys used by the aerospace industry through AM has encountered numerous issues. Certain complications can be resolved through intense post-processing. Although, such mitigation strategies are not appropriate for repaired material as intense heat-treatments might deteriorate substrate properties. Therefore, new methods are required to control and optimise the deposition of Ni-based superalloys. The commercial superalloy IN718 is currently used for certain AM repair applications. However, due to the limitations on the post-processing that may be tolerated, the complications of an irregular microstructure, an uncontrollable texture and severe elemental segregation remain unresolved for this system. In this thesis, the laser-blown-powder directed-energy-deposition (LBP-DED) of IN718 is characterised and novel methods for compositionally optimising the deposition of this system are investigated. It is shown that a Brass texture ({110} <211>) can be obtained in LBP-DED IN718. This texture is observed to be enhanced through recrystallisation following selected heat treatments. The evolution of elastic properties from the as-deposited state were studied as a function of heat treatment time and duration using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS). To control the crystallographic texture formed, the addition of niobium carbide (NbC) inoculant particles to the precursor powder was investigated. It was observed that the inoculants enhanced the formation of the Brass texture component, as well as leading to the occurrence of alternating regions possessing mirror symmetry. The addition of the inoculant therefore offers a method of achieving a degree of microstructural and textural control during…
author: Markanday, Jonathon
language: eng
keywords: Ni-based Superalloys, Additive Manufacturing, Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy, Alloy Design, Texture and Anisotropy
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
date published: 2022-03-31
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:00Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.86352