Evaluation of Liquation Cracking Behavior and Susceptibility in Heat-Affected Zone of CM247LC Superalloy Welds for Turbine Blade Application

In this study, the weldability of the as-cast CM247LC superalloy for turbine blade applications was metallurgically evaluated in terms of its hot cracking behavior and susceptibility. For this purpose, a real blade was manufactured using a directional solidification casting process, and gas tungsten arc welding was performed at the tip and cavity of the upper blade. Hot cracking was confirmed in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of gas tungsten arc welds, and the cracks were characterized as liquation cracks, since a cobble or dropletshaped crack surface consistent with a liquid film was clearly confirmed. Microstructural analysis of the cracking surface and thermodynamic calculations helped elucidate the metallurgical mechanisms of the liquation cracking. In other words, the cracking was attributed to liquation of the γ-γ’ eutectic colony and the constitutional liquation of the MC-type carbides: these phases existed in the as-cast microstructure. In particular, it was calculated that liquation of the γ-γ’ eutectic colony during welding occurs at least at 1488 K and that constitutional liquation of MC-type carbides begins at 1411 K, while the equilibrium solidus temperature of the CM247LC alloy is 1530 K. Finally, the liquation cracking susceptibility was quantitatively evaluated through a spot-Varestraint test, and it was confirmed for the first time that the higher susceptibility of as-cast samples can be suppressed by employing a pre-weld heat treatment such as solution treatment.