Microstructure and Properties Characterization of Polycrystalline Ni-Fe-Cr-Based Superalloy EP-718E after Electric Upsetting

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of electric upsetting on the microstructure defects eliminating and mechanical properties evolution of the Ni-Fe-Cr-based polycrystalline superalloy EP718E. The microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometry techniques. The material mechanical properties were characterized by nanoindentation, by tension testing of micro samples and high cycle fatigue testing at room temperature. The results show, that the microstructure defects on confluence of grain boundaries (depending on the processing stages) were step-by-step eliminated. The tension stress was lowered but elongation was increase. As a result of such changes in microstructure and mechanical properties of alloy the fatigue strength (δ-1) was increased from δ-1 = 300 MPa to δ-1 = 540 MPa and the number of cycles to failure was increased from N1 = 2·107 up to N4 = 4 x (2·107), respectively.