Effects of cerium addition on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of a new nickel-based cast superalloy

The microstructure and stress rupture properties of a new nickel-based cast superalloy were investigated with the cerium(Ce)additions of 0,19,50,96,150,and 300 ppm,respectively.The results indicated that Ce was mainly found in M C and M 23 C 6 carbides,and it was also found to exist in the form of cerium-rich phases or inclusions.According to the microstructure evidence,Ce promoted the formation of M C carbides and aggravated the inhomogeneity of M 23 C 6 carbides along grain boundaries.It was also identi-fied that the average sizes of primary and secondaryγ’phases all decreased with the rising Ce content.The acceleration of Ti,Nb,and C segregations during solidification was attributed to the influence of cerium on the variation of carbides along grain boundaries.The stress rupture life experienced a signifi-cant drop as the Ce content increased from 19 to 300 ppm.Explorations showed that the degradation was mainly attributed to the severe degradation of M C carbides and the easily forming micro-voids around them caused by the Ce addition.In addition to that,the increments in the inhomogeneous distribution of M 23 C 6 carbides at grain boundaries and the accelerated coarsening rate ofγ’phases both induced the fracture under complex stress conditions.