Microstructures and mechanical properties of Inconel 783 superalloys, which were
used as ultra-supercritical steam turbine bolts for different time, were systematically
investigated. The results showed that the strength of the superalloys increased
concomitantly with the service time, while the ductility and impact toughness
exhibited successive degradation. Theoretical calculations regarding various
strengthening mechanisms demonstrated that the strength increment was mainly due
to the enhanced precipitate strengthening. Moreover, effects of multiscaled phases on
the ductility were successfully analyzed with a modified model, which attributed the
reduced ductility to the microscaled phases with high volume fraction. Besides, a
relationship correlating the impact toughness with the evolving microstructures and
yield strength was examined, which is consistent with the present experimental results,
as well as those of other alloys in the literature. The result revealed that the toughness
degradation was caused by the higher content and/or larger size of the second phase.
This work was useful for performance enhancement and evaluation of the Inconel 783
superalloy.
Keywords:
Superalloy; Strengthening mechanism; Microstructure; Ductility;
Toughness