Nucleation of recrystallisation in castings of single crystal Ni-based superalloys

Recrystallisation in single crystal Ni-based superalloys during solution heat treatment results in a significant cost to the investment casting industry. In this paper two sources of surface nucleation have been identified in the alloy CMSX-4®. Firstly, Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) has revealed micro-grains of γ′, between 2 and 30 μm diameter in the layer of surface eutectic found in the upper part of the casting. These have high...