The Effect of Cooling Rate and Cryogenic Treatment on Microstructure and ‎Hardness of IN738LC Cast Superalloy after Full Solution Annealing

In this study, IN738LC super alloy samples were solutionized at 1210 °C for 5 hours. After solutionizing, the samples were cooled in both air and liquid nitrogen. One of the air-cooled samples after reaching the room temperature was stored in liquid nitrogen for 2 hours. To investigate the effects of high cooling rate and sub-zero operations on the microstructure and hardness, the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hardness test. Deeper sub-zero operations reduced the size of the sediment to 117 nm. While cooling in liquid nitrogen reduced the size of the sediment to 76 nm. This suggests that the cold weather in the air has provided the opportunity for growth to precipitate. By increasing cooling rate and keep at deep zero, the hardness of the samples decreased, so that the minimum hardness was related to the sample stored in liquid nitrogen. The results of this research can be applied to new blades after casting and also under service and to help improve the heat treatment process.