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Quantitative Characterization of Elemental Segregation in Inconel 718 Superalloy by Micro-Beam X-ray Fluorescence
Xuefan Zhou1,2, Dongling Li2,3, Qingqing Zhou1,2
1Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Materials Genome Engineering, Central Iron and Steel Research Institution, Beijing 100081, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 25, 2023
Summary
Micro-beam X-ray fluorescence accurately characterized elemental micro-segregation in Inconel 718 (IN718) superalloy. Niobium (Nb) and Titanium (Ti) showed the highest segregation degrees, particularly near precipitates.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Inconel 718 (IN718) is a critical nickel-based superalloy for aerospace and nuclear industries due to its superior mechanical and corrosion resistance.
- Heterogeneous solidification during casting leads to elemental segregation in IN718, negatively impacting mechanical properties.
- Accurate characterization of micro-segregation is essential for understanding and mitigating these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively characterize element micro-segregation in IN718 superalloy.
- To determine the concentration distributions of key alloying elements (Cr, Fe, Mo, Nb, Ti).
- To correlate micro-segregation patterns with microstructural features.
Main Methods:
- Utilized micro-beam X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) for quantitative elemental micro-segregation analysis.
- Optimized μ-XRF testing parameters for IN718 alloy.
- Employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) to analyze microstructure and precipitate distribution.
Main Results:
- Determined concentration distributions and calculated segregation degrees for Cr, Fe, Mo, Nb, and Ti.
- Identified Nb and Ti as elements with significantly higher segregation degrees compared to others.
- Observed severe segregation of Nb and Ti in regions with accumulated Nb-containing precipitates.
Conclusions:
- μ-XRF is an effective technique for quantitative micro-segregation analysis in IN718.
- Nb and Ti segregation is strongly linked to the presence and distribution of Nb-containing precipitates.
- Understanding this correlation is crucial for controlling IN718 alloy properties.
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