Thermal Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Simulation of As-cast Ni-Cr-Co Based Superalloy

SHA Lei; WANG Bingbing; ZHONG Kangdi; MA Pingdong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.05.021

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (5) : 226-238. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.05.021

Superalloy Forming

Thermal Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Simulation of As-cast Ni-Cr-Co Based Superalloy

SHA Lei¹, WANG Bingbing^1,*, ZHONG Kangdi¹, MA Pingdong²

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Abstract

The work aims to investigate the hot deformation behavior of an as-cast Ni-Cr-Co-based superalloy under a wide temperature and strain rate range, analyze the influence and characteristics of deformation temperature and strain rate on flow stress, and establish a prediction model for the microstructure evolution of the alloy using the cellular automata (CA) method, so as to provide a theoretical basis for microstructure prediction and control of the superalloy and optimizing the hot working process. After homogenization heat treatment, isothermal hot compression tests were carried out on the thermomechanical simulator at deformation temperature of 1 020-1 140 ℃, strain rate of 0.01-10 s^-1 and strain of 0.16-0.92. The microstructure of the compressed samples under different deformation parameters was observed by optical microscope (OM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to analyze the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior. Based on the rheological stress data and dislocation density theory, a CA prediction model for microstructure evolution of the alloy during hot compression was constructed using Matlab, and the experimental results were compared and verified. The results showed that the flow stress of the as-cast Ni-Cr-Co-based superalloy decreased with the increase of deformation temperature or the decrease of strain rate. The change of flow stress presented typical characteristics of DRX. At low temperature (1 020-1 050 ℃), grain boundary cracking led to continuous decrease of flow stress at large strains. The absolute value of temperature sensitivity exponent θ increased with the increase of strain rate. The adiabatic heating effect at high strain rate intensified the dynamic softening effect. The strain rate sensitivity exponent m was positively correlated with temperature, and the value of m increased significantly above 1 080 ℃. The average relative errors of DRX volume fraction and grain size predicted by the CA model at 1 020 and 1 140 ℃ were within 10% compared with the experimental results, which could realize the simulation and prediction of the microstructure evolution after hot deformation. The deformation temperature and strain rate have a significant effect on the flow behavior of the as-cast Ni-Cr-Co based superalloy during hot deformation. At low deformation temperature, grain boundary cracking is the main reason for the decrease of flow stress. The temperature and strain rate sensitivity exponents are closely related to the dynamic softening process. The established CA model can effectively simulate the microstructure evolution of the alloy during hot deformation, providing reliable theoretical support for optimizing hot working process parameters.

Key words

as-cast Ni-Cr-Co-based superalloy / hot deformation / microstructure evolution / CA model

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SHA Lei, WANG Bingbing, ZHONG Kangdi, MA Pingdong. Thermal Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Simulation of As-cast Ni-Cr-Co Based Superalloy[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(5): 226-238 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.05.021

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Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Youth Science Foundation Research (2025D01C342, 2024D01C210); Tianshan Talents-Young Elite Talents-Grassroots Science and Technology Backbone Talents (2024TSYCJC0003); Scientific Research Plan of Universities in Xinjiang Province (XJEDU2025P102); Youth Development Program of the Tingzhou Region (2023QN08)