Understanding raft formation and precipitate shearing during double minimum creep in a γ′-strengthened single crystalline Co-base superalloy.

The compressive creep deformation behavior of a Co-base single-crystalline superalloy is studied in the high temperature / low stress regime at 950°C/150 MPa. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms causing the double minimum creep behavior consisting of a local and a global creep rate minimum. The local minimum occurs at ∼0.2% strain with dislocation accumulation at γ/γ′ interfaces after bowing out of dislocations in horizontal matrix channels. Plate-like rafting occurring normal to the applied stress axis in the early creep stages is regarded as the primary reason for the decreasing creep rate until the global minimum takes place at ∼0.8% strain. In the final creep stage following the global minimum the creep rate accelerates due to coarsening and extensive precipitate shearing. The shearing by partial dislocations leads to the formation of numerous stacking faults, nano/microtwins, and occasionally to the formation of small amounts of ordered D0₁₉-Co₃W precipitates. The reasons for twinning and second phase formation as well as differences of the deformation mechanisms between Co- and Ni-base superalloys during double minimum creep are discussed in detail in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]