Abstract
Although expensive, Ni-based superalloys are of interest for the ultrasupercritical steam program because of their good creep and oxidation resistance at temperature above 700ºC. However, the effect of steam oxidation on the alloy mechanical properties is unknown, and creep specimens of alloy CCA617, 740 and 230 were pre-oxidized for 2000 and 4000h in steam at 800ºC before testing in air at the same temperature. Exposure in steam decreased the creep properties of alloy CCA617 compared with as fabricated material, had less of an effect on alloy 740, and did not affect alloy 230. Testing of a specimen repolished after steam exposure as well as microstructure observation indicate that the oxidation affected zone at the specimen surface is not responsible for the properties degradation. Surprisingly, a similar time anneal in an inert environment resulted in a drastic decrease of creep rupture life and an increase in the creep rate and elongation at rupture. TEM analysis revealed that the mechanical properties decrease for alloy CCA617 is related to the absence of γ’ precipitates in the grain.
