The analysis on creep failure mechanism of nickel-based single crystal superalloys deposited with different molten salts

The creep properties of nickel-based single crystal superalloys under the effect of the Na₂SO₄ salt and the mixed salts of Na₂SO₄ and NaCl (75 % Na₂SO₄ + 25 % NaCl) are investigated in this paper, respectively. The failure mechanism influenced by the γ/γ′ phase evolution and element dissolution is fully discussed through the elemental distribution analysis and the fractographic analysis by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results show that the existence of NaCl and Na₂SO₄ result in the appearance of the tearing ridge and the cleavage-like plane, respectively. Thus, the failure of the specimen deposited with Na₂SO₄ is mainly the cleavage-like fracture, and that of the specimen deposited with mixed salts presents a mixed mode of cleavage-like plane and tearing ridge. According to the EDS analysis, the failure mechanisms of nickel-based single crystal superalloys deposited with different molten salts are determined by its corrosive behaviors. The Na₂SO₄ is overrun by the sulfidation and oxidation reactions on surface of specimen due to its lower diffusion rate, so the sulphidation attack almost appears on surface and the further permeation is hardly observed. While the existence of NaCl in mixed salts leads to the generation of volatile metal chlorides, which directly promotes the substrate to be exposed in corrosive environment. Therefore, the declination of effective cross-section is the only reason for the fracture of nickel-based single crystal superalloys deposited with Na₂SO₄, and the mixed mode is presented on the fracture of the specimens deposited with mixed salts.