Development and Processing of Nickel Aluminide-Carbide Alloys

<p>With the upper temperature limit of the Ni-based superalloys attained a new class of materials is required. Intermetallics appear as likely candidates because of their attractive physical properties. With a relatively low density high thermal conductivity excellent oxidation resistance high melting point and simple crystal structure nickel aluminide (NiAl) appears to be a potential candidate. However NiAl is limited in structural applications due to its low room temperature fracture toughness and poor elevated temperature strength. One approach to improving these properties has been through the application of eutectic composites. Researchers have shown that containerless directional solidification of NiAl-based eutectic alloys can provide improvement in both the creep strength and fracture toughness. Although these systems have shown improvements in the mechanical properties the presence of refractory metals increases the density significantly in some alloys. Lower density systems such as the carbides nitrides and borides may provide NiAl-based eutectic structure. With little or no information available on these systems experimental investigation is required. The objective of this research was to locate and develop NiAl-carbide eutectic alloys. Exploratory arc-melts were performed in NiAl-refractory metal-C systems. Refractory metal systems investigated included Co Cr Fe Hf Mo Nb Ta Ti W and Zr. Systems containing carbides with excellent stability (i.e.HfC NbC TaC TiC and ZrC) produced large blocky cubic carbides in an NiAl matrix. The carbides appeared to have formed in the liquid state and were randomly distributed throughout the polycrystalline NiAl. The Co Cr Fe Mo and W systems contained NiAl dendrites with a two-phase interdendritic microconstituent present. Of these systems the NiAl-Mo-C system had the most promising microstructure for in-situ composites.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>