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The deformation substructure of TiAl (Llo type ordered lattice) tested in compression, and the factors determining it were investigated. Two types of dislocations take part in the plas-tic deformation, namely a/2 [110] and a/2 [Oil]. The latter type will disorder the Llo super-lattice and therefore would be expected to move in pairs as superdislocations. Some obser-vations are essentially in agreement with the predictions, however the large proportion and morphology of a/2 [O1l] dislocations observed was unexpected. Twins of the [112] (111) type play an important role in the deformation of the alloy, and the early stages of their formation have been recorded. Finally, equi-Schmid factor lines have been constructed in an attempt to evaluate the importance of the sense of the applied stress on the deformation capability of the alloy.

To gain insight into the factors which control the creep-rupture properties of powder metallurgical nickel-base superalloys at intermediate temperatures (650 to 775°C), a comparative study was conducted on the alloys AF115, modified MAR-M432 (B6) and modified IN100 (MERL76). Creep-rupture properties in these alloys were characterized in terms of the stress and temperature dependence of the secondary creep rate, eS, andrupture time,t R . Within the limited stress ranges used, the stress dependence of both eS andt R at 704°C can be represented by power laws eS andC n andt R =Mσ -p ; whereC,M, n, andp are constants. The stress exponentsn andp are approximately equal for both AF115 and B6 with values of 16 and 7, respectively. In the case of MERL76,n andp are different, with values of 15 and 5, respectively. The apparent activation energies,Q, are 700, 370 and 520 KJ mol-1 for AF115, B6 and MERL76, respectively. For these alloys, long creep-rupture lives are associated with large values ofn andQ. The sig-nificant differences inn andQ values between AF115 and B6 were related to creep re-covery processes for which the lattice misfit between the gamma and the gamma prime was identified to be an important parameter. However, the unequaln andp values in MERL76 compared with those in AF115 and B6, were traced to differences in fracture mode. Failures in AF115 and B6 were initiated at carbide particles at grain boundaries. In contrast, fracture in MERL76 was initiated at grain boundary triple junctions. The rupture lives of AF115 and B6 can be modeled reasonably well by the growth of cavities during secondary creep and propagation of a surface-nucleated crack during the tertiary creep.

The martensitic transformation and the effect of cobalt additions on important martensitic toughening parameters are being studied as a means of toughening NiAl alloys. Cobalt additions to NiAl martensite are seen to lower the Ms temperature, reduce the transformation strain anisotropy, and reduce the transformation temperature hysteresis (an indicator of interfacial mobility). Optimization of these parameters should allow martensitic transformation toughening processes to aid in overcoming the ambient temperature brittleness of NiAl alloys.