Hot deformation behaviors and microstructure evolution of a supersaturated nickel-based superalloy

The hot deformation behaviors and microstructure evolution of a supersaturated Ni-based superalloy GH4742 were investigated by isothermal compression tests. The deformation temperature range encompassed gamma' sub-solvus (1000-1075 degrees C) and super-solvus (1100-1150 degrees C), with strain rates ranging from 0.001 s(-1) to 1 s(-1). Separate Arrhenius-type constitutive equations were established considering the re-precipitation of the gamma' phase. The correlation coefficient between the calculated stresses and the experimental data was as high as 0.997, which indicated that the rheological behaviors of the material during hot deformation processes could be accurately analyzed by the constitutive relationship. Additionally, the activation energies for the gamma + gamma' two-phase region and the gamma single region were calculated to be 949.08 kJ.mol(-1) and 437.66 kJ.mol(-1), respectively. Microstructural analysis revealed that the partial dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) occurred in the gamma' sub-solvus regime whereas the full DRX occurred in the gamma' super-solvus regime. The low DRX fractions in the gamma' sub-solvus regime were attributed to the presence of near-spherical re-precipitated gamma' phase, which effectively suppresses the nucleation and growth of new grains. The deformed grains were oriented in the <101> direction parallel to the compression direction. Meanwhile, the non-monotonic relationship between the degrees of DRX and strain rate was observed due to the adiabatic temperature rise. The retarding effects of solute elements on the grain growth in the gamma' super-solvus regime were determined by comparing the recrystallized grain sizes from theoretical analysis and experiment values. This work can provide guidance for understanding the deformation behaviors of the alloy and achieving desired microstructures.