MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AND HARDNESS OF FERRITIC SUPERALLOYS CONTAINING NiAl-B2 AND L21–Ni2TiAl PRECIPITATES
Keywords:
aging; ferritic superalloy; hardness; homogenization; L21–Ni2TiAl; NiAl-B2; SEM; XRD
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of homogenization and aging treatments on the microstructure and hardness of ferritic superalloys containing NiAl-B2 and L21–Ni2TiAl precipitates. Two alloy compositions were prepared using an electric arc furnace, with Ti additions of 2 w/% (Alloy I) and 4 w/% (Alloy II). The ingots were homogenized at 1150 °C for 10 h followed by furnace cooling, and subsequently aged at 800 °C for 8 h. Characterization was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Vickers hardness testing. The as-cast alloys exhibited the highest hardness, averaging 650.8 HV for Alloy I and 625.6 HV for Alloy II, due to the presence of metastable precipitates formed during rapid solidification. Homogenization reduced the hardness to 487.2 HV (Alloy I) and 522.6 HV (Alloy II) as a result of precipitate dissolution and redistribution of the alloying elements, while aging increased the hardness to approximately 525 HV in both alloys through secondary precipitation of the NiAl-B2 and L21–Ni2TiAl with finer and more homogeneous distributions. SEM-EDS confirmed that Alloy I exhibited a more uniform dispersion of precipitates, whereas Alloy II contained a greater quantity of Ni2TiAl, but with local agglomerations. In conclusion, homogenization and aging treatments strongly influenced the precipitation behavior and hardness of ferritic superalloys, with Alloy I showing superior homogeneity and Alloy II favoring greater Ni2TiAl formation, highlighting the effect of Ti content on phase stability and mechanical performance.
References
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[34] J. A. Mayer, T. M. Pollock, K. V. Vamsi, and R. Seshadri, “Antiphase boundaries in intermetallics: Proximate structures, formation energies, and chemical stability,” Phys Rev Mater, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 013610, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.8.013610.
[2] A. Ganda Putra, A. Manaf, and A. Anawati, “Enhancing the Hardness of Mg-9Al-1Zn Cast Alloy by Solution Treatment,” IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng, vol. 515, p. 012088, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/515/1/012088.
[3] L. A. Morales, N. Luo, K. Li, C. H. Zenk, and C. Körner, “On stabilizing an α/α′/α″ microstructure in ferritic superalloys,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 911, p. 164996, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164996.
[4] J. E. Kanyo, S. Schafföner, R. S. Uwanyuze, and K. S. Leary, “An overview of ceramic molds for investment casting of nickel superalloys,” J Eur Ceram Soc, vol. 40, no. 15, pp. 4955–4973, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.07.013.
[5] J. E. Kanyo, S. Schafföner, R. S. Uwanyuze, and K. S. Leary, “An overview of ceramic molds for investment casting of nickel superalloys,” J Eur Ceram Soc, vol. 40, no. 15, pp. 4955–4973, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2020.07.013.
[6] P. M. Mignanelli et al., “Gamma-gamma prime-gamma double prime dual-superlattice superalloys,” Scr Mater, vol. 136, pp. 136–140, Jul. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2017.04.029.
[7] M. Sarıkaya et al., “A state-of-the-art review on tool wear and surface integrity characteristics in machining of superalloys,” CIRP J Manuf Sci Technol, vol. 35, pp. 624–658, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.cirpj.2021.08.005.
[8] S. Septianissa, B. Prawara, E. A. Basuki, E. Martides, and E. Riyanto, “Improving the hot corrosion resistance of γ/γ’ in Fe-Ni superalloy coated with Cr3C2-20NiCr and NiCrAlY using HVOF thermal spray coating,” Int J Electrochem Sci, vol. 17, no. 12, p. 221231, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.20964/2022.12.27.
[9] J. Lauzuardy et al., “MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF Cr3C2-NiCr COATINGS DEPOSITED WITH THE HIGH-VELOCITY OXY-FUEL THERMAL-SPRAY TECHNIQUE,” Materiali in tehnologije, vol. 58, no. 2, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.17222/mit.2023.869.
[10] S. Septianissa and A. Z. Chandrasari, “Corrosion Rate of ASTM A53 Steel in Seawater Influenced by Variation in Concentration of Mangifera Indica L. Peel Extract,” Journal of Applied Engineering and Technological Science (JAETS), vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 550–560, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.37385/jaets.v6i1.5182.
[11] E. Pérez, C. Ferreira-Palma, H. J. Dorantes Rosales, V. López, and M. A. Beltrán-Zúñiga, “Aging Effect on Microstructural Evolution of B2(Nial) Coherent Precipitates in Ti-Modified Fe-Ni-Al Alloys,” 2025. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5144878.
[12] G. Zhao, X. Zang, and W. Sun, “Role of carbon in modifying solidification and microstructure of a Ni-based superalloy with high Al and Ti contents,” Journal of Iron and Steel Research International, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 98–110, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1007/s42243-020-00408-x.
[13] W. C. Kim et al., “Designing -strengthened Al-Cr-Fe-Ni-Ti complex concentrated alloys for high temperature applications,” Acta Mater, vol. 211, p. 116890, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2021.116890.
[14] N. Luptáková, J. Svoboda, D. Bártková, A. Weiser, and A. Dlouhý, “The Irradiation Effects in Ferritic, Ferritic–Martensitic and Austenitic Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys: A Review,” Materials, vol. 17, no. 14, p. 3409, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.3390/ma17143409.
[15] F. Badkoobeh, H. Mostaan, M. Rafiei, H. R. Bakhsheshi-Rad, and F. Berto, “Microstructural Characteristics and Strengthening Mechanisms of Ferritic–Martensitic Dual-Phase Steels: A Review,” Metals (Basel), vol. 12, no. 1, p. 101, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/met12010101.
[16] Z. Wang et al., “Coherent precipitation and stability of cuboidal B2 nanoparticles in a ferritic Fe–Cr–Ni–Al superalloy,” Mater Res Lett, vol. 9, no. 11, pp. 458–466, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1080/21663831.2021.1973130.
[17] Z. Wang, B. Jiang, H. Liu, B. Niu, H. Yu, and Q. Wang, “Microstructural Stability and Strengthening Mechanism of a Ferritic Fe–Cr–Ni–Al Superalloy Containing Cuboidal B2 Nanoparticles,” 2023, pp. 469–485. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-27447-3_30.
[18] X. Chen et al., “Ductility deterioration induced by L21 phase in ferritic alloy through Ti addition,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 25, pp. 3273–3284, Jul. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.06.176.
[19] K. Park et al., “Developing high-strength ferritic alloys reinforced by combination of hierarchical and laves precipitates,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 856, p. 158162, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.158162.
[20] K. Park et al., “Developing high-strength ferritic alloys reinforced by combination of hierarchical and laves precipitates,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 856, p. 158162, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.158162.
[21] U. B. Baek, J. Park, and T. T. Nguyen, “Effect of Elevated Temperature on Low Cycle Fatigue and Tensile Strength of 12Cr Ferritic Steel,” Metals and Materials International, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s12540-024-01858-8.
[22] J. Kim et al., “Designing L21-Co2TiAl precipitate-strengthened ferritic alloys with excellent high-temperature mechanical properties,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 891, p. 145984, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2023.145984.
[23] L. Verma and V. V. Dabhade, “Investigation of nano-clusters evolved with Ti and Zr in ferritic ODS steel and their effect on microstructure and mechanical properties,” Mater Today Commun, vol. 40, p. 109943, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.109943.
[24] S.-I. Baik, M. J. S. Rawlings, and D. C. Dunand, “Effect of aging on coarsening- and creep resistance of a Ti-modified Fe–Ni–Al–Cr–Mo ferritic steel with L21/B2 composite precipitates,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 776, p. 138987, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2020.138987.
[25] P. De Tiedra, Ó. Martín, and M. San-Juan, “Potentiodynamic study of the influence of gamma prime and eta phases on pitting corrosion of A286 superalloy,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 673, pp. 231–236, Jul. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.261.
[26] P. De Tiedra, Ó. Martín, and M. San-Juan, “Potentiodynamic study of the influence of gamma prime and eta phases on pitting corrosion of A286 superalloy,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 673, pp. 231–236, Jul. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.261.
[27] P. De Tiedra, Ó. Martín, and M. San-Juan, “Potentiodynamic study of the influence of gamma prime and eta phases on pitting corrosion of A286 superalloy,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 673, pp. 231–236, Jul. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.261.
[28] J. Xu et al., “Continuous L21-Ordered Precipitation Induced Breakthrough of Strength and Ductility Trade-Off in Ni-Depleted Metastable High Entropy Alloy Under Quasi-State and Dynamic Compression,” 2023. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4328091.
[29] S. Li et al., “Development and applications of aluminum alloys for aerospace industry,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 27, pp. 944–983, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.09.274.
[30] T. Majeed, Y. Mehta, and A. N. Siddiquee, “Precipitation-dependent corrosion analysis of heat treatable aluminum alloys via friction stir welding, a review,” Proc Inst Mech Eng C J Mech Eng Sci, vol. 235, no. 24, pp. 7600–7626, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.1177/09544062211003609.
[31] F. Godor et al., “Microstructure Evolution of a New Precipitation-Strengthened Fe–Al–Ni–Ti Alloy down to Atomic Scale,” Metals (Basel), vol. 12, no. 6, p. 906, May 2022, doi: 10.3390/met12060906.
[32] S. Wolff-Goodrich, A. Marshal, K. G. Pradeep, G. Dehm, J. M. Schneider, and C. H. Liebscher, “Combinatorial exploration of B2/L21 precipitation strengthened AlCrFeNiTi compositionally complex alloys,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 853, p. 156111, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.156111.
[33] M. S. Mehranpour, H. Shahmir, A. Derakhshandeh, and M. Nili-Ahmadabadi, “Significance of Ti addition on precipitation in CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy,” J Alloys Compd, vol. 888, p. 161530, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.161530.
[34] J. A. Mayer, T. M. Pollock, K. V. Vamsi, and R. Seshadri, “Antiphase boundaries in intermetallics: Proximate structures, formation energies, and chemical stability,” Phys Rev Mater, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 013610, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.8.013610.
Published
2026-04-09
How to Cite
1.
Ganda PutraA, Septianissa S, Pawawoi, Aldilani IkaningsihM, Martoni, Martijanti, Zaki MubarokM, Ridwanulloh H, Irawan J, Akhista GamaraB. MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AND HARDNESS OF FERRITIC SUPERALLOYS CONTAINING NiAl-B2 AND L21–Ni2TiAl PRECIPITATES. MatTech [Internet]. 2026Apr.9 [cited 2026Jul.16];60(2):235–242. Available from: https://mater-tehnol.si/index.php/MatTech/article/view/1575
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