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The crack propagation properties are an important and often limiting factor for the commercial application of superalloys in aerospace applications where the oxidation ahead of the crack tip plays an important role. Previous research on the Ni-base superalloy A718Plus revealed that the orientation and the volume fraction of the high temperature grain boundary phases δ and η have a major influence on the dwell fatigue crack propagation rate at 650 °C in ambient air but not in vacuum. In this work, the effect of internal oxidation at the η/δ–matrix interface and its effect on dwell fatigue crack propagation and mechanical properties are examined by advanced microscopic methods and micro-cantilever testing. During crack propagation, the crack tip is exposed to air where a Nb-rich oxide layer forms and embrittles the η/δ–matrix interface causing the cracks to deflect and propagate along the oxidized interfaces. Micro-cantilever tests on the oxidized interface show that these oxide layers also significantly reduce the local strength and fracture toughness of the material. This proves that interfacial oxide layers are the underlying reason for the reduction of the dwell fatigue crack growth resistance at 650 °C, particularly in microstructures whose η/δ–matrix interfaces are oriented parallel to the crack growth direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) owes its high toughness to transformation toughening, a mechanism that requires the development of a process zone. It is important to measure if and to what extent the size of components can be reduced. In this study, tests were carried out using focused ion beam or picosecond milled pre-notched, 3 mol percent Y 2 O 3 (3Y-) TZP micro-cantilever (10–250 μm) beams. The tests show clearly that the maximum fracture resistance is size dependent and the plateau toughness was not reached in any of the small-scale samples. A correlation between transformability of the tetragonal phase and the measured fracture resistance became visible only for the largest micro cantilever but did not reach the values measured in macroscopic samples. Based on these results, it is not advantageous to use very tough zirconia materials in components with dimensions smaller than ∼0.25 mm, as the high toughness is not fully realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutectic NiAl-(Cr,Mo) composites are promising high temperature materials due to their high melting point, excellent oxidation behavior and low density. To enhance the strength, hardness and fracture toughness, high cooling rates are beneficial to obtain a fine cellular-lamellar microstructure. This can be provided by the additive process of selective electron beam melting. The very high temperature gradient achieved in this process leads to the formation of the finest microstructure that has ever been reported for NiAl-(Cr,Mo) in-situ composites. A very high hardness and fracture toughening mechanisms were observed. This represents a feasibility study towards additive manufacturing of eutectic NiAl-(Cr,Mo) in-situ composites by selective electron beam melting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]