A high-throughput strategy for rapid synthesis and characterization of Ni-based superalloys

This study developed a new high-throughput strategy, designated as hot-isostatic-pressing-based microsynthesis approach (HIP-MSA), to optimize high-performance nickel-based superalloys in a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective manner. A specific honeycomb-array structure containing 106 discrete cells was designed and optimized using finite element analysis (FE,A) and then applied to create a combinatorial library consisting of 106 Ni-based superalloys with various Co, Nb and Ta concentrations. By integration with high-throughput characterization tools, extensive composition and phase structure data were collected quickly and efficiently. In the superalloys with higher amounts of Nb and Ta, the detrimental eta phase displaying needle-like morphology was observed, and its content (wt%) increased drastically with Ta and Nb contents increasing. However, the increase of Co addition in those alloys was confirmed to be surprisingly beneficial by significantly suppressing the formation of eta phase that was induced by high Nb and Ta contents. The zero-phasefraction (ZPF) line of eta phase was established, which is critical to design superalloy chemistry for superior microstructural stability at high-temperature service conditions.