Creep behavior of a nickel-based superalloy under cyclic temperatures

In this paper, the thermal-cycling creep of Ni-based superalloy DZ125 is investigated at very high temperature. Experiments were conducted with various parameters including overheating duration, applied stress, temperature interval and heating/cooling frequency. Microscopic observation has revealed a modified thermodynamic equilibrium with lower γ’ content in comparison to isothermal creep situation. This phenomenon is discussed on the basis of Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov law and pre-existing theoretical assumptions of dislocation density evolution during thermal transients. A linear relationship between overheating numbers and equilibrium γ’ content is obtained to develop a phenomenological life model of thermal-cycling creep. Life prediction results of proposed method are in good agreement with experimental ones.