Ni Base Forged Alloy Composition for Gas Turbine Forgeability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ni base forged alloys face challenges in achieving high-temperature strength and segregation properties suitable for large-sized components, as solid solution and precipitation strengthening elements tend to segregate during solidification, making it difficult to manufacture large-sized members with excellent forgeability and miniaturized crystal grains.

Innovation Solution

An Ni base forged alloy with specific composition ranges, including Al, Cr, Fe, Nb, Ti, W, B, C, and Mo, is developed, where the solid solution temperature of the precipitation strengthening phase is ≤970°C, and the difference in solid solution temperature between the δ-phase and precipitation strengthening phase is ≥50°C, enhancing forgeability and suppressing crystal grain coarsening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If solid solution strengthening elements (W, Mo, Co) and precipitation strengthening elements (Al, Ti, Nb) are added to improve high-temperature strength, then the high-temperature strength is improved, but the elements are apt to be segregated during solidification making it difficult to manufacture large-sized members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature strengthVSAvoidsegregation property
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compositional parameters by precisely controlling the content ranges of Al (0.5-1.5%), Ti (0.8-3.0%), Nb (3.5-5.5%), W (0.1-6.0%), Mo (0.1-2.0%), and other elements. This parameter optimization balances the competing requirements: maintaining sufficient precipitation strengthening elements for high-temperature strength while limiting elements that cause severe segregation, enabling successful casting of large-sized members up to 3 tons or more

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite alloy system combining multiple strengthening mechanisms: solid solution strengthening (W, Mo, Co), precipitation strengthening (γ'-phase Ni3Al, γ"-phase Ni3Nb), and grain boundary strengthening (δ-phase). This composite approach allows the alloy to achieve high-temperature strength comparable to or exceeding Alloy 718 while improving segregation resistance through the synergistic effect of multiple strengthening phases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If Alloy 718 is used for large-sized members, then excellent high-temperature strength is achieved, but the segregation property is reduced and manufacturing method of controlling the solidification speed is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the compositional parameters compared to Alloy 718 by adjusting Al (0.5-1.5% vs. typically 0.5-1.0%), Ti (0.8-3.0% vs. typically 0.5-1.0%), Nb (3.5-5.5% vs. typically 5.0-6.0%), and adding specific ranges of Cr (16-22%), Fe (16-20%), W (0.1-6.0%), and Mo (0.1-2.0%). These parameter changes optimize the balance between strength and segregation resistance, allowing large-sized members to be manufactured without complex solidification speed control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of segregation into a benefit by carefully selecting element combinations where certain elements (Cr, Fe) have low segregation tendency and can act as diluents to reduce the overall segregation of strengthening elements. The controlled addition of W and Mo, which have different segregation behaviors, further helps to balance the compositional stability during solidification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Weight of stationary object

If large-sized material exceeding 5 tons is manufactured, then the solidification condition has restriction in order to continue stable operation, but there are a lot of Ni base alloys to which it cannot be applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of manufacturable memberVSAvoidapplicability of alloy
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the alloy composition parameters to enable applicability to large-sized members up to 3 tons or more. The specific composition ranges (Al: 0.5-1.5%, Cr: 16-22%, Fe: 16-20%, Nb: 3.5-5.5%, Ti: 0.8-3.0%, W: 0.1-6.0%, Mo: 0.1-2.0%) are optimized to ensure stable solidification conditions, reduced segregation, and consistent mechanical properties throughout the large volume, expanding the applicability beyond conventional alloy limits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The alloy achieves excellent high-temperature strength and segregation properties, enabling the production of large-sized members with improved forgeability and miniaturized crystal grains, suitable for applications like gas turbines, with a yield stress ≥1000 MPa at 500°C, and effective in manufacturing large-sized components up to 3 tons or more.

Implementation Method 1

a γ'-phase (gamma prime phase) made of Ni 3 Al and a γ"-phase (gamma double prime phase) made of Ni 3Nb which are the precipitation strengthening phases can be precipitated to matrix phase finely and innumerably

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 2

it is considered that the cause bringing about the segregation is that solute elements are distributed in solid-liquid interface unevenly, so that difference in density in molten metal is changed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity difference: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2706126B1Ni base forged alloy and gas turbine utilizing the same
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 MITSUBISHI HITACHIPOWER SYST LTD
  • EP2706126B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2706126B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2706126B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An Ni base forged alloy is easy to make hot forging and miniaturization of crystal grains while excellent high-temperature strength and segregation property are compatible. The Ni base forged alloy has solid solution temperature of a precipitation strengthening phase lower than or equal to 970°C, difference in the solid solution temperature between a δ-phase and the precipitation strength phase larger than or equal to 50°C, Al of 0.5 to 1.0%, Cr of 17 to 21%, Fe of 17 to 19%, Nb of 4.5 to 5.5%, Ti of 0.8 to 1.3%, W of 3.0 to 6.0%, B of 0.001 to 0.03%, C of 0.001 to 0.1 % and Mo of 1.0% or less in mass percentage [%] and remainder made of Ni and inevitable impurities.