LAUSR

The purpose of this work is to study the effect of heat treatments on the microstructure of the nickel-based superalloy Inconel 713C. Three different conditions were studied and the results compared: (1) as cast; (2) solid solution treatment (1179 °C/2 h) and (3) stabilization heat treatment (1179 °C/2 h plus 926 °C/16 h). Inconel 713C is normally used in the as-cast condition, an improvement in the 980 °C stress-rupture life is often obtained by a solution heat treatment. However, the material in this condition tested under high stress at 730 °C shows a marked decreased in rupture life and ductility. The mechanical resistance in creep increases in Inconel 713C by precipitation hardening phase, with γ’ (Ni3Al) formed during the heat treatments. The characterization techniques used were: chemical analysis, hardness testing, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS analyzes and thermocalculation. The SEM and EDS analysis illustrated the γ, γ’ and carbides. The matrix phase (γ), has in its constitution the precipitation of the γ’ phase, in a cubic form, and in some regions, carbides were modified through the heat treatments. (M23C6-type) and boride (M3B2 type) identified with the use of the thermocalculation. The heat treatments increase the relative intensity of niobium in the carbides. The hardness test was not achieved because the material was overaged.