Research Profile - Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy ...

Cathie Rae
Lecturer
MA University of Oxford
DPhil University of Oxford
+44 (0) 1223 334333
cr18@cam.ac.uk
www.msm.cam.ac.uk/utc/
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure
Over the last 50 years turbine entry temperatures (TETs) have
risen from 800ºC to 1600ºC. Materials developments in all turbine
components, are critical to achieving this, but engine designers
are looking for a TET of 1800ºC to increase engine efficiency and
reduce environmental impact. We focus on understanding the
fundamental mechanisms determining the mechanical properties
of turbine materials and use this to produce tools and strategies
for materials development and life prediction.
Alloy development of fourth-generation singlecrystal
alloys
Nickel-base single-crystal superalloys can be strengthened
by the addition of tungsten and rhenium, but doing so while
maintaining reasonable density, stability and environmental
resistance requires careful optimization of the composition
and microstructure. Our work is aimed at understanding the
mechanical properties at all temperatures experienced in service
and involves creep LCF and TMF testing, combined with TEM
and SEM of the deformed microstructures. In fourth-generation
patented alloys developed at Cambridge, the role of ruthenium
in stabilising and strengthening the alloys is being investigated.
As part of the ‘Alloys by Design’ project, the interactions of
dislocations with the γ' precipitates are being modelled using
phase-field techniques.
Oxidation and coatings
Thermal-barrier coatings are an integral part of component
design: understanding both the oxidation kinetics of nickelbased
alloys and their long-term interaction with various coating
systems is vital to component lifing and future design strategies.
Projects involve the time-dependent oxidation behaviour and
oxide morphology, and the compatibility of various coatings with
both commercial and experimental nickel-base superalloys. New
methodologies, developed in Cambridge, have been adopted by
Rolls-Royce as part of their worldwide component lifing strategy.
RA Hobbs, S Tin & CMF Rae, “A castability model based on elemental
solid-liquid partitioning in advanced nickel-base single-crystal superalloys”
Metall. Trans. A 36A, 2761–2773 (2005).
CMF Rae, MS Hook & RC Reed, “On the precipitation of topological close
packed phases at aluminide coatings on superalloys and the effect of
precipitate morphology” Mater. Sci. Eng. A 396, 231–239 (2005).
CMF Rae & RC Reed, “Primary creep in single crystal superalloys: Origins,
mechanisms and effects” Acta Mater. 55, 1067–1081 (2007).
The picture shows the nickel-based superalloy TMS82 during
the early stages of primary creep showing an a dislocation
ribbon passing through both precipitates and matrix
Research Profile 33