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The continual research and development of nickel-based superalloys is driven by the global demand to improve efficiency and reduce emissions in the aerospace and power generation industries. Integrated Computational Material Engineering (ICME) is a valuable tool for reducing the cost, time, and resources necessary for the development and optimization of the mechanical properties of materials. In this work, an ICME approach for understanding the microstructure development and optimizing the mechanical properties in nickel-based superalloys is employed. Most nickel-based superalloys are precipitate strengthened by either the γ’ phase, γ” phase, or both. Therefore, understanding the precipitation kinetics and morphological evolution of these phases is critical for evaluating their hardening effects during heat treatment and degradation of the microstructure during high temperature service. To this end, a phase-field model has been developed to analyze the nucleation, growth and coarsening kinetics during isothermal and non-isothermal aging conditions. Utilizing the phase-field model, the γ” phase microstructure development and its coherency strengthening effect in Inconel 625 is studied. A novel multistage aging strategy to optimize the γ” phase strengthening effect and reduce aging times for Inconel 625 is proposed. Secondly, the coarsening kinetic and microstructure development of γ’ strengthening phase in nickel-based superalloys is studied, with the goal of understanding the effect of elastic inhomogeneity on the microstructure evolution at high volume fractions of the γ’ phase. The result shows deviation of the coarsening kinetics from the classical Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) due to the effect of elastic inhomogeneity, highlighting the need for incorporating elastic energy into coarsening theories.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:10:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:09:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 04673.pdf: 4338286 bytes, checksum: 9b40b59ddc2764691461410ae0194329 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:10:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Um dos principais mecanismos de falha que causam riscos de fratura a reatores de água pressurizada é a corrosão sob tensão de ligas metálicas em água do circuito primário (CSTAP). É causada por uma combinação das tensões de tração, meio ambiente em temperatura e microestruturas metalúrgicas susceptíveis. Ela pode ocorrer, dentre outros locais, nos bocais do mecanismo de acionamento das barras de controle. Essa fratura pode causar acidentes que comprometem a segurança nuclear através do bloqueio das barras de controle e vazamentos de água do circuito primário reduzindo a confiabilidade e a vida útil do reator. O objetivo desta Tese de Doutorado é o estudo de modelos e uma proposta de modelagem para fraturas por corrosão sob tensão em liga 75Ni15Cr9Fe (liga 600), em água de circuito primário de reator de água pressurizada nesses bocais. São superpostos modelos eletroquímicos e de mecânica da fratura e validados com dados obtidos em experimentos e na literatura. Na parte experimental foram utilizados resultados obtidos pelo CDTN no equipamento recém-instalado de ensaio por taxa de deformação lenta. Na literatura está proposto um diagrama que exprime a condição termodinâmica de ocorrerem diversos modos de CSTAP na liga 600: partiu-se de diagramas de potencial x pH (diagramas de Pourbaix), para a liga 600 imersa em água primária à alta temperatura (3000C a 3500C). Sobre ele, determinaram-se os submodos de corrosão, a partir de dados experimentais. Em seguida acrescentou-se uma dimensão adicional ao diagrama, correlacionando uma variável a que se denominou fração de resistência à corrosão sob tensão. No entanto, é possível acrescentar-se outras variáveis que exprimem a cinética de iniciação e/ou crescimento de trinca, provenientes de outras modelagens de CSTAP. A contribuição original deste trabalho se insere nessa fase: partindo-se de uma condição de ensaio de potencial versus pH, foram iniciadas as modelagens de um modelo empírico-comparativo, um semi-empírico-probabilístico, um de tempo de iniciação e um de taxa de deformação, a partir dos ensaios experimentais e superpostas a essa condição. Esses exprimem respectivamente a susceptibilidade à CSTAP, o tempo de falha, e nos dois últimos o tempo de iniciação de falha por corrosão sob tensão. Os resultados foram comparados com os da literatura e se mostraram coerentes. Através desse trabalho, obteve-se uma metodologia de modelagem a partir de dados experimentais. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

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Primary water stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of metals in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) is known to be one of the most challenging and cost intensive modes of failure in the nuclear industry. Even though it is known that cracking in Ni-base alloys proceeds mainly intergranular (IG), the initiation and propagation of cracks in ductile metals are not yet understood and a much-desired accurate prediction of SCC related failure seems unobtainable. In this thesis, a combination of microcantilever fracture experiments, scanning electron- (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques was employed to study and compare the failure of oxidized grain boundaries of Ni-base Alloy 600 with high and low intergranular carbide coverage and different sample history. A new technique for lifting-out whole cantilevers after testing and for performing 3D focussed ion beam sequencing (3D FIB-SEM) while preserving a thin central region of the cantilever for further TEM sample preparation was developed and is presented. In lieu with recent efforts of the main project sponsor Électricité de France (EDF) to build a predictive model for IGSCC based on localized/microscopic information, one of the main objectives was the extraction of the stress at failure of individual oxidized GBs. Supported by finite element simulations, microcantilever fracture tests revealed that surface oxides on top of individual GBs have the capability to alter the mechanical response by delaying/suppressing the onset of failure. An overestimation of the failure stress (> 230 MPa) was observed, proving that the presence of the surface oxide on top of the test structures cannot be neglected. The failure stress on both samples, tested without influence of the surface oxide, was found to cover a range of 300 - 600 MPa, which agreed well with finite element simulations of the tests and further demonstrates the reliability of the obtained data. The second objective was to gain a better understanding of the observed fracture behaviour and the role of local microstructure. Using the gathered microscopy data, it was found that the crack clearly favours a progression along the IG oxide-metal interface in the presence of carbide precipitates. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) revealed that the observed crack path can be linked to compositional and density variations of the IG oxide. In the presence of carbides the oxide was layered. An oxide close to the stoichiometry of chromia was located at the original GB and next to the carbides. Next to this Cr-rich oxide, Fe-rich mixed spinel oxides of varying composition and density were found. An explanation for density variations based on the possible formation of defective spinel oxides of the type A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄, due to an unavailability of certain cation species is presented. No clear interface preference was observed in the absence of precipitation, where the IG oxide was found to be thin and often incomplete with Cr-richer oxides preferentially located at the original GB. While these observations were consistent on both samples (high and low carbide coverage), bigger void-like defects were located at the Fe-richer oxide-metal interface of the cold worked sample with high IG carbide precipitation only. These weak spots seemed to be the preferred path for crack propagation on this sample. The sample with low intergranular carbide coverage showed no obvious porosities at this interface but a Cr- depleted region was seen. Introducing a multi-faceted investigation strategy, supported by finite element simulations, the presented thesis provides the most accurate determination of the failure stress of oxidized GBs on Alloy 600 to date and and adds new valuable insights to our understanding of IGSCC and the future prediction of SCC related failures.

Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés aux propriétés semi-conductrices des oxydes formés sur les alliages base nickel en milieu primaire des REP. L'objectif étant de mettre en évidence les effets de la pression partielle en hydrogène, de la nature de l'alliage et de l'état de surface sur les types de semi-conductions et les énergies de bandes interdites. La technique photoélectrochimique a été employée pour caractériser ces propriétés semi-conductrices. D'autres techniques de caractérisation complémentaires ont été également utilisées telles que le MEB-FEG, la diffraction des rayons X, la spectroscopie Raman et l'XPS. Les essais de corrosion ont été effectués en milieu primaire simulé (autoclave en titane, température 325°C, durée 500 heures). Des échantillons d'alliages 600 et 690 de polissage 1 µm diamant, ont été oxydés aux P(H2) < 0,01 ; 0,3 et 6,5 bar. L'état de surface ne concernait que l'alliage 600 oxydé à P(H2) = 0,3 bar. Nous avons utilisé une nouvelle méthode d'ajustement numérique pour la détermination des gaps. Les résultats obtenus montrent que seule la pression d'hydrogène affecte le type de semi-conduction des oxydes présentés par les hautes énergies, il passe du type-n (P(H2) < 0,01) en type proche de l'isolant (P(H2) = 0,3 et 6,5 bar). Un comportement du type-n a été enregistré à basse énergie quels que soit les paramètres d'étude. Les énergies de bande interdites des oxydes NiO, Cr2O3 et NiFe2O4 ont été révélées. / In this thesis, we are interested in semiconducting properties of oxides formed on nickel base alloys. The aim is to demonstrate the effects of hydrogen partial pressure, the nature of the alloy and the surface conditions on the semi-conduction type and the band gap energies. Photoelectrochemical technique was used to characterize the semiconducting properties. Other complementary techniques were also used such as FEG-SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Corrosion tests were performed in simulated primary medium (titanium autoclave, temperature 325°C, duration 500 hours). Samples of alloys 600 and 690 of 1 µm diamond polishing were oxidized at P(H2) < 0,01 ; 0,3 et 6,5 bar. The surface conditions concerned only the alloy 600 oxidized at P(H2) = 0,3 bar. We used a new method for fitting energy spectra to obtain the band gap energies. The obtained results show that only the hydrogen pressure affects the semiconducting type of oxides presented by the high energies, it shift from n-type (P(H2) < 0,01 bar) to insulating type (P(H2) = 0,3 and 6,5 bar). An n-type behavior was recorded at low energy whatever the study parameters. Band gaps energies of NiO, Cr2O3 and NiFe2O4 were revealed.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:43:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 06631.pdf: 7171449 bytes, checksum: 14579bbc0c3bfbe0058e6387b09d94f4 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP