Nickel-based superalloys see wide use in applications requiring high strengths at high temperatures, notably in the blades of gas turbines. An important contributor to this superior high-temperature strength is the presence of Gamma Prime precipitates.

This project characterizes the behaviour of a PM nickel-based superalloy consisting of Ni-12Cr-9Fe (w/o) with the addition of 6w/o Al and 0.5w/o Si to refine prediction of precipitate size, improving control of the material properties.

The solutionization temperature of Gamma Prime in this alloy was modeled using JMatPro sofware (1040?C), and verified using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (1092?C). Precise temperature control was found to be more important to control material properties than exact ageing times. Using an Atomic Force Microscope, precipitates in the nanometer range were imaged, and analysed using ImageJ software. A thermo-mechanical deformation procedure increased sample density slightly (5.3%), and is limited to 30% deformation.