Measurement of the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature in a nickel aluminide coating by a miniaturised disc bending test technique

Nickel aluminide coatings are often employed to enhance the corrosion and oxidation resistance of nickel base gas turbine blades and vanes, as the high near-surface content of Al increases the ability to form an Al2O3 protective scale. The ductility of the coating depends on the type of aluminisation process and Ni-base material. In order to prevent coating degradation during service it is important to assess the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) in ductility of the coating. To determine the DBTT a miniaturised disc bending test (MDBT) technique is used, where a biaxial tensile stress is applied to a disc specimen. The DBTT of a NiAl coating, applied by a high-activity aluminium pack cementation process to a polycrystalline Ni-base superalloy (IN738 LC), was evaluated using the MDBT technique between room temperature (RT) and 860 °C. Test results gave a DBTT in biaxial ductility of the coating of approximately 760 °C. Above 760 °C, a significant increase in ductility was noted. Fractographic examination showed that the coating fractures in a mainly transgranular mode at RT but in a predominately intergranular mode at elevated temperatures, even at temperatures above DBTT.