Determination of transition temperatures during freezing and melting of interdendritic phases in Ni based superalloys

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) coupled with microstructural analysis has been used to characterise the freezing and melting response in a typical Ni based superalloy, CMSX10K. Transition temperatures and evolution of fraction solid (or liquid) during freezing and melting are determined from enthalpy considerations. Significant differences in heat capacity (C_P) curves exist between the heating and cooling. It is shown that differences between freezing and melting kinetics occur because of undercooling, which is most significant beyond the solidus temperature up to the onset of eutectic freezing. The correlation of DSC heating and cooling curves to quantitatively characterise directional solidification has been demonstrated.