Microstructure and stress rupture properties of single crystal superalloy CMSX-2 under high thermal gradient directional solidification

The interface morphologies of single crystal superalloy CMSX-2 were studied over a range of cooling rate with large variations in withdrawal speeds in directional solidification. A superfine cellular structure was obtained under both high thermal gradient up to 1000 K/cm and fast withdrawal rate up to 1 mm/s. The high rate directional solidification results in reduction in primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing, refinement of γ′ phase, reduced microsegregation of alloying elements and smaller size of γ-γ′ eutectics. The rupture life and plasticity of fine structure samples produced in high thermal gradient directional solidification increase significantly than that in conventional directional solidification process at 1323 K.