Stability of Ni₃(Al, Ti) Gamma Prime Precipitates in a Nickel-Based Superalloy Inconel X-750 Under Heavy Ion Irradiation

Phase stability of Ni₃(Al, Ti) precipitates in Inconel X-750 under cascade damage was studied using heavy ion irradiation with transmission electron microscope (TEM) in situ observations. From 333 K to 673 K (60 °C to 400 °C), ordered Ni₃(Al, Ti) precipitates became completely disordered at low irradiation dose of 0.06 displacement per atom (dpa). At higher dose, a trend of precipitate dissolution occurring under disordered state was observed, which is due to the ballistic mixing effect by irradiation. However, at temperatures greater than 773 K (500 °C), the precipitates stayed ordered up to 5.4 dpa, supporting the view that irradiation-induced disordering/dissolution and thermal recovery reach a balance between 673 K and 773 K (400 °C and 500 °C). Effects of Ti/Al ratio and irradiation dose rate are also discussed.