Characterization of Constitutional Liquid Film Migration In Nickel-Base Alloy 718

When multiphase alloys are rapidly heated, it is possible to cause melting of the interface between phases. This is called constitutional liquation if, during melting, the bulk composition is in a nonliquid region of the phase diagram but the tie-line between the liquating phases passes through a liquid region. The liquid produced during constitutional liquation can spread along grain boundaries and promote liquid film migration (LFM). This is known as constitutional liquid film migration (CLFM), which is thermodynamically similar to liquid film migration; however, mechanistically there are significant differences. Nickel-base alloy 718 has been studied to show the features of migration that are unique to CLFM. Experimentation consisted of heat-treating rods of alloy 718 to promote the trapping of niobium carbide particles on the grain boundaries. These samples were then subjected to isothermal treatments above their constitutional-liquation temperature, which produced CLFM of the grain boundaries. The movement of the liquid films away from their centers of curvature, the formation of a new solid solution behind the migrated liquid films, and the reversals of curvature of the migrated liquid films confirmed that CLFM was the phenomenon observed. The concentration of niobium behind the migrated liquid films for isothermal treatments below the solidus temperature was shown to be greater than the niobium concentration in the matrix. Above the solidus temperature, there was no increase in niobium concentration. The validity of the coherency strain hypothesis as the driving force for CLFM in alloy 718 is discussed.