The effect of thermal cycling on the high-temperature creep behaviour of a single crystal nickel-based superalloy

Isothermal and thermal cycling creep behaviours of a single crystal nickel-based superalloy have been studied by means of tensile tests at 1150 degrees C and 80 MPa. We have demonstrated that thermal cycling creep rates are faster than isothermal creep rates and that lifetimes at high temperatures are shorter for creep tests under thermal cycling conditions. Furthermore, it is shown that thermal cycling creep lifetime increases as the thermal cycle frequency decreases. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.