Solidification path of single-crystal nickel-base superalloys with minor carbon additions under laser rapid directional solidification conditions

The solidification path of single-crystal nickel-base superalloys containing minor carbon was investigated under various laser rapid directional solidification (LRDS) conditions. By controlling the solidification rate, LRDS processing can provide the evidence whether some diffusion-controlled phase transformations occur because such transformations will be suppressed under high cooling rates. Results show that the solidification path and final solidification microstructure depend upon the cooling rate; the microstructure without γ-γ′ eutectic can be obtained as long as the cooling rate is high enough. A peritectic transformation in carbon-containing single-crystal superalloys was first experimentally verified by controlling the cooling rate during LRDS processing.