Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of TiN Precipitation in Nickel-Based Superalloys During Solidification

Large TiN inclusions in nickel-based superalloys promote micropore formation, compromising the mechanical properties of the alloys. However, current research lacks a comprehensive coupled model that considers both solute element microsegregation and TiN precipitation specifically in nickel-based superalloys. This study investigated TiN precipitation during the solidification of IN718 alloys through a combined thermodynamic and kinetic approach. A modified Clyne-Kurz model was applied to account for multi-element microsegregation, enabling an integrated analysis of both microsegregation and precipitation processes. The results indicated that solute elements in the molten alloy segregated to varying degrees during solidification. At an initial nitrogen concentration of 25 ppm, TiN inclusions precipitated when the solid fraction reached 0.256, eventually resulting in a total TiN precipitation of 64 ppm by the end of solidification, while residual nitrogen in the liquid phase decreased to 1.3 ppm. Increasing the initial nitrogen concentration from 10 ppm to 40 ppm advanced the onset of TiN precipitation and raised the total amount from 16 ppm to 126 ppm. Further analysis indicated that cooling rates of 0.03 °C/s, 0.06 °C/s, and 0.18 °C/s did not significantly affect the final TiN accumulation.