Effect of aging treatment on the carbides in cast nickel-based superalloy K52 under high magnetic field

The morphology and chemical composition of MC and M23C6 carbides in the cast nickel-based superalloy K52 aged in a high magnetic field was investigated.The results show there is no significant influence of a high magnetic field on the morphology and distribution of MC and M23C6 carbides.However,when aged in a high magnetic field,the content of strong carbide forming elements,such as W,Mo,Nb and Ti,in the MC and M23C6 carbides increases slightly,on the contrary,the content of weak or non-carbide-forming elements such as Cr,Co and Ni,in the MC and M23C6 carbides decreases obviously.These results indicate that under a high magnetic field,the affinity of carbon to the strong carbide forming elements is enhanced rather than to the weak or non-carbide-forming elements,therefore the content of strong carbide-forming elements in carbides increases and contrary that of the weak or non-carbide-forming elements decreases.