Microstructure and Stress-Rupture Life of Polycrystal, Directionally Solidified, and Single Crystal Castings of Nickel-Based IN 939 Superalloy

A comparative investigation of microstructural and mechanical properties (stress-rupture life) in conventionally cast, directionally solidified, and single crystal IN 939 superalloy has been undertaken. Directional castings possess only a few columnar grains, all oriented in the <100> crystallographic direction, whereas only one grain is present in a single crystal. Single crystals are characterized by the highest values of stress-rupture life, much higher than those of directionally solidified and, especially, polycrystal castings, which is accounted for by the absence of grain boundaries.