ADVANCED SUPERALLOYS
[0001] The Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. F33615-77-C-5200
awarded by the United States Department of the Air Force.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0002] The invention disclosed and claimed herein is related to the invention disclosed
and claimed in patent application Serial No. 13DV-8334, filed of even date herewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention pertains generally to nickel-base superalloys useful in the manufacture
of hot-section components of aircraft gas turbine engines, e.g., vanes and rotating
blades, and more particularly to compatible coatings especially useful for the enhancement
of the environmental resistance of such hot-section components made from advanced
nickel-base superalloys and nickel-base eutectic superalloys.
[0004] Advanced nickel-base superalloys such as the monocarbide reinforced nickel-base eutectic
superalloys of the type described, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,292,076 to Gigliotti,
Jr. et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, are designed for use as unidirectionally
solidified anisotropic metallic bodies, primarily in the form of vanes and rotating
blades in aircraft gas turbine engines. The superalloys of U.S. Patent 4,292,076,
when directionally solidified (DS'd) under stringent conditions to achieve planar
front solidification (PFS), result in a eutectic composite microstructure consisting
of strong, reinforcing metallic carbide (MC) fibers in a 7/Y' nickel-base superalloy
matrix. Because highly aligned microstructures are formed during planar front solidification,
the superalloys of U.S. Patent 4,292,076 offer potential structural stability and
property retention to a greater fraction of their solidification temperatures than
do other materials.
[0005] The eutectic superalloys have been identified as the next generation of blade alloys
beyond directionally solidified and single crystal superalloys. In order to take full
temperature advantage of those superalloys, however, coatings are required to provide
environmental protection at the high intended use temperatures.
[0006] Stringent requirements are placed on the coatings and the coating/substrate composite.
For example, the coatings must be tightly bonded, i.e., metallurgically bonded, to
the substrate and ideally must not degrade either the mechanical properties of the
substrate (e.g., ductility, stress rupture strength and resistance to thermal fatigue)
or the chemical properties of the substrate (e.g., oxidation resistance and hot corrosion
resistance).
[0007] Examples of adverse effects to eutectic superalloys which have resulted from incompatible
coatings are fiber denudation near the coating/substrate interface due to outward
diffusion of carbon from the fiber into the coating and the formation of brittle precipitates
in the substrate due to interdiffusion between the coating and the substrate.
[0008] While many coatings and barrier/coating systems have been proposed and tried, there
has been a general inability in the past to specify coatings or barrier/coating systems
which are truly compatible with the substrate, i.e., offer improved environmental
protection and produce good metallurgical bonds with the substrate yet not degrade
the mechanical or chemical properties of the substrate, especially when the substrate
is of an alloy of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,292,076.
[0009] Therefore, there exists a need for protective environmental coatings which are truly
compatible with the newest generation of superalloys, particularly those designed
for use as vanes and rotating blades in aircraft gas turbine engines, such as the
directionally solidified monocarbide reinforced nickel-base eutectic superalloys of
the type described in U.S. Patent 4,292,076.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] There is provided by the present invention a nickel-base superalloy which is mechanically
and chemically compatible with advanced nickel-base superalloys and nickel-base eutectic
superalloys, and which possesses excellent resistance to high temperature oxidation.
The alloy of the invention is, therefore, particularly useful as a protective environmental
coating for the external surfaces of hot stage aircraft gas turbine engine components,
e.g., rotating blades and stationary vanes, made from advanced nickel-base superalloys
and nickel-base eutectic superalloys.
[0011] Broadly, the superalloy of the invention consists essentially of about, by weight,
1 to 10% cobalt, 6 to 12% chromium, 5 to 8% aluminum, 1 to 10% tantalum, 1 to 10%
tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum, 0.1 to 2% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.1% boron,
0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance being nickel and incidental impurities.
[0012] While it is contemplated that the above-described novel superalloy will be applied
most frequently as a protective environmental coating to comprise at least a portion
of the outer surface of gas turbine engine components and articles, it has also been
found that the novel alloy of this invention is useful as a thicker, built-up deposit
applied to selected regions of substrates, such as aircraft gas turbine engine components,
for repair purposes, or as the tip portion of rotating blades. Such applications then,
contemplate composite articles of manufacture : having as a substrate an article,
such as a gas turbine. engine airfoil, made of a nickel-base superalloy or . nickel-base
eutectic superalloy and one or more thick, built-up regions contiguous with, i.e.,
joined to and forming an integral part of, the substrate wherein the one or more regions
comprise at least a portion of the outer surface of the composite article and are
of the above-described novel superalloy composition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0013]
FIGURE 1 is a photomicrograph at 200X of a NiCoCrAlY type coating as-deposited on
a B-type nickel-base eutectic superalloy substrate;
FIGURE 2 is a photomicrograph at 250X of the alloy of the invention as-deposited as
a coating on a B-type substrate by the low pressure plasma deposition (LPPD) process;
FIGURE 3 is a photomicrograph at 200X of a NiCoCrAlY the coating on a B-type substrate
following exposure of .0 hours at 2100° F in a Mach 0.05 gas velocity oxidation test,
in which the specimens were cycled to 800° F six times per hour;
FIGURE 4 is a photomicrograph at SOOX of the alloy of the invention on a B-type substrate
after exposure of 500 hours in the same oxidation test described above for Figure
3;
FIGURE 5 is a photomicrograph at 500X of a NiCoCrAlY type coating as-deposited on
an N-type nickel-base single crystal superalloy substrate;
FIGURE 6 is a photomicrograph at 500X of the alloy of the invention as-deposited as
a coating on an N-type substrate by the LPPD process;
FIGURE 7 is a photomicrograph at 200X of a NiCoCrAlY type coating on an N-type substrate
following exposure of 400 hours at 2075° F in a Mach 0.05 gas velocity oxidation test,
in which the specimens were cycled to 800° F six times per hour; and
FIGURE 8 is a photomicrograph at 200X of the alloy of the invention on an N-type substrate
following exposure of 550 hours at 2075° F in the same oxidation test described above
for Figure 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] As set forth in the foregoing summary, the present invention relates to a nickel-base
superalloy which is mechanically and chemically compatible with advanced nickel-base
superalloys and nickel-base eutectic superalloys and which possesses excellent resistance
to high temperature oxidation. The superalloy of the invention consists essentially
of cobalt, chromium, aluminum, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, mo bdenum, hafnium, boron
and carbon in the percentages by weight) set forth in Table I below, the balance bei
nickel and incidental impurities.

[0015] The present alloy is particularly useful as a protective environmental coating, of
between about 0.002 and 0.1 inches in thickness, for the external surfaces of solid
and hollow, fluid-cooled gas turbine engine components, e.g., rotating blades and
stationary vanes, operating in the hot stage sections of such turbines and made from
advanced nickel-base superalloys and nickel-' se eutectic superalloys. While it is
contemplate that the novel alloy herein described will most frequenaly be applied
as protective environmental coatings to provide at least a portion of the outer surface
of gas turbine engine components and articles, it has also been found that the superalloy
of the invention is also useful as one or more thicker, built-up deposits applied
to selected regions of such articles or component-like substrates.
[0016] Whether the novel alloy is deposited as coatings or thicker, built-up deposits, the
utilization of plasma spray techniques to deposit the alloy of the invention is preferred.
Most preferred is the technique, sometimes referred to as low pressure plasma deposition
(LPPD), described in U.S. Patent 3,839,618 - Muehlberger, which patent is incorporated
herein by reference. Alloys in accordance with the present invention produce very
dense coatings or deposits after plasma spraying and especially after plasma spraying
by the above-mentioned LPPD process whereby as-deposited densities of 95% and greater
are readily obtained.
[0017] The wide differences in the evaporation rates (or vapor pressures) between high vapor
pressure elements like chromium, manganese or aluminum and low vapor pressure elements
like tantalum or tungsten make the deposition and composition control of coatings
of the novel alloy of this invention by other processes such as vacuum physical vapor
deposition difficult, if not impossible. It will be appreciated, however, that process
improvements or modifications in methods such as physical vapor deposition or ion
plating could make coating by these methods possible, and the use of these methods
is therefore contemplated. Additionally, techniques like sputtering, slurry sintering,
or others may also be considered.
[0018] To illustrate the practice of the present invention, 0. series of coatings, hereinafter
referred to as the "6 " or 6M-type coatings by way of designation, were produced by
low pressure plasma deposition of an alloy of the invention, i.e., one consisting
essentially of, nominally by weight within normal melting tolerances, 4% Co, 8.5%
Cr, 6% Al, 5% Ta, 4.5% W, 1.5% Re, 1.5% Mo, 0.9% Hf, 0.01% B, and 0.09% C, the balance
nickel and incidental impurities, onto flat plate-like substrates and pin-like substrates
for environmental testing.
[0019] A nickel-base superalloy conforming to U.S. Patent 4,292,076, i.e., one consisting
essentially of about, on a weight basis, at least an amount in excess of an impurity
amount up to 0.02% of B, 0 to 9% Re, 0 to <0.8% Ti, 0 to 20% Cr, 0 to 10% Al, 3 to
15% Ta, 0.1 to 1% C, 0 to 20% Co, 0 to 20% W, 0 to 7% V, 0 to 10% Mo, 0 to 3% Cb,
0 to 3% Hf, 0 to 1.5% Zr, the balance being nickel and incidental impurities, but
having a nominal composition of about, by weight, 0.01% B, 6.44% Re, 3.84% Cr, 5.34%
Al, 11.37% Ta, 0.43% C, 3.8% Co, 4.33% W, 3.01% Mo, balance nickel and incidental
impurities, and hereinafter referred to as the "B" or B-type substrate for purposes
of designation, was provided as one substrate.
[0020] A nickel-base superalloy capable of being cast as a single crystal by directional
solidification and conforming to that described in copending, co-assigned patent application
Serial No. 307,819, filed October 2, 1981, i.e., consisting essentially of, by weight,
7 to 12% Cr, 1 to 5% Mo, 3 to 5% Ti, 3 to 5% Al, 5 to 15% Co, 3 to 12% W, 2 to 6%
Ta, up to 10% Re, up to 2% Cb, up to 3% V, up to 2% Hf, balance nickel and incidental
impurities, further characterized by the substantial absence of B, and Zr and wherein
the Al:Ti ratio is maintained the range of about 0.5 to about 1 while maintaining
the Cr:Al ratio in the range of about 1.5 to 4 was provided as a second substrate
and is hereinafter referred to as the "N" or N-type substrate for purposes of designation.
More specifically, the composition of the second substrate material was, nominally,
by weight, 9.3% Cr, 7.5% Co, 3.7% Al, 4% Ta, 4.2% Ti, 1.51 Mo, 6% W, 0.5% Nb, the
balance nickel plus incidental impurities.
[0021] For comparison, separate substrates of the above-described B-type and N-type were
also provided with a coating typically used heretofore to enhance the resistance of
such substrates to environmental degradation. In this case, the coating material selected
was a NiCoCrAlY (Ni-23Co-18Cr-12.5Al-0.3Y) of the type described in U.S. Patent 3,928,026,
which patent is herein incorporated by reference. All coatings of the NiCoCrAlY type
were deposited by a commercial vendor using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process
described in the aforementioned 3,928,026. patent.
[0022] Prior to coating deposition, the B-type substrates were solution treated at 2325°
F for two hours and the N-type substrates were solution treated at 2310° F for two
hours irrespective of the coating to be applied. The process of applying the NiCoCrAlY
type coatings has been described above. The 6M coatings were applied by the above-described
LPPD plasma spray process. For the B-type substrates, a commercially available standard
internal feed plasma spray gun and the process parameters of Table II were used. For
the N-type substrates, a commercially available standard external feed plasma spray
gun and the process parameters of fable III were used.

[0023] To optimize the properties of the substrates, all coated substrates were subjected
to a post-deposition heat treatment which typically consisted of a first age at 1975°
F for 2-8 hours followed by a second age at 1650
0 F for 4-16 hours. At this stage, the coatings are referred to as "as-deposited" coatings.
The structure of the B-type substrate is one of an aligned eutectic (TaC) fibrous
reinforcing phase in a γ/γ' matrix while the structure of the N-type substrate is
one of y' precipitates in ay matrix.
[0024] Table IV presents the results of cyclic oxidation tests on pin-like specimens conducted
under the conditions shown in the table using a natural gas flame at the velocities
shown in the table. The specimens were rotated for uniform exposure and cycled out
of the flame 1 or 6 times per hour to cool the specimens to about 800° F. Failure
is defined as penetration of the coating to the extent that (substrate) oxidation
begins to occur. Hot corrosion testing was conducted at 1700° F using a JP-5 fuel-fired
flame with 5 ppm salt added to the combustion products. The specimens were rotated
for uniform exposure and cycled out of the flame once every hour.
[0025] It may be seen from Table IV that the alloy of the invention as a coating provides
good protection to both substrates, and particularly to the B-type substrate. The
oxidation resistance provided by the alloy of the invention is somewhat greater than
would be expected based on a study of its overall composition. These unexpected properties
are attributed to the absence of titanium and the presence of hafnium in combination
with the slightly higher-than-usual aluminum content (6%) and a proper balance of
carbon and the other refractory elements. This balance of elements helps form and
maintain a protective alumina scale when exposed in air. Although having lower resistance
to hot corrosion than NiCoCrAlY, the alloy of the invention as a coating provides
acceptable environmental protection against hot corrosion, i.e., greater than 540
hours life on B-type substrates (test terminated prior to failure) and 1000 hours
on N-type substrates.

[0026] The coated specimens were evaluated metallographically to determine the extent of
interaction between the coatings and the substrate. The results are given in Table
V which lists the extent, if any, of the denuded and platelet formation zones, the
sum of which comprise the interaction zone, following exposure in the oxidation tests
at the temperatures and for the times shown. Platelets,

such as those shown in Figures 3 and 7 for NiCoCrAlY on the B and N-type substrates,
respectively, are a result of the interdiffusion of elements between the coating and
the substrate, i.e., a chemical incompatibility between the coating and the substrate.
The platelets are undesirable due to their needle-like morphology and brittleness.
The denuded zone, also shown in Figures 3 and 7, is a zone which has been depleted
of γ' due to - the diffusion of elements from the substrate to the coating, leaving
a weakened, primarily γ matrix.
[0027] Reference to Figures 2 and 6 show that in the as-deposited condition there is virtually
no interaction zone formed between the 6M coating and either the B-type or N-type
substrates. A slight interaction zone, however, is evident in Figures 1 and 5 between
the NiCoCrAlY coating and both the B-type and N-type substrates.
[0028] Reference to Figures 3 and 4, and Table V, shows that after 500 hours exposure at
2100° F in the oxidation test an interaction zone has formed between the NiCoCrAlY
coating and the B-type substrate which is about three times deeper than the interaction
zone formed between the 6M coating and the B-type substrate. Further, about 45% of
the interaction zone in the NiCoCrAlY/B pair is of the deleterious platelet phase.
[0029] Similarly, reference to Figures 7 and 8, and Table V, shows that after 400 hours
exposure at 2075° F in the oxidation test an interaction zone has formed between the
NiCoCrAlY coating and the N-type substrate which is deeper than about four times the
interaction zone formed between the 6M coating and the N-type substrate, even though
the 6M/N pair was tested for about a 40% longer period of time. About 70% of the interaction
zone in the NiCoCrAlY/N pair is of the deleterious platelet phase.
[0030] In addition to the unique combination of reduced diffusional interaction and good
environmental resistance, the alloy of the invention also possesses high temperature
strength superior to NiCoCrAlY. Elevated temperature tensile tests on very thick (-1/2
inch) deposits of the NiCoCrAlY and 6M-type alloys showed that at 1800° F the ultimate
tensile strength (UTS) of the materials was about 7 and 30 ksi, respectively, while
at 2000° F the UTS of the materials was about 3 and 7, respectively. The higher strength
of the 6M-type alloy is expected to result in greatly improved resistance to thermal/mechanical
fatigue cracking.
[0031] Since the alloy of the invention is itself a superalloy, the difference in the coefficient
of thermal expansion (a) between the alloy of the invention and nickel-base superalloy
substrates is less than that between NiCoCrAlY and the same superalloy substrates.
The smaller difference in a reduces the stresses imposed on a coating alloy in service,
and thereby reduces the propensity for coating spallation and thermal fatigue cracking.
[0032] Thus, the low propensity of the alloy of the invention to form interaction zones,
and particularly its low propensity to form platelets, plus its higher strength and
thermal expansion compatibility with superalloy substrates makes the alloy of the
invention a coating which is truly chemically and physically compatible with nickel-base
superalloy substrates, in addition to providing the environmental resistance required
in severe high pressure, high temperature turbine environments.
[0033] It has also been found that the novel alloys of this invention are useful as thicker,
built-up deposits applied to selected regions of aircraft gas turbine engine components,
such as the tip portions of rotating blades or stationary vanes, or for purposes of
repairing nicked or damaged regions as typically occur on such components as airfoils.
In that respect, the alloys of the invention are more in the nature of a superalloy
from which components are made, e.g., structural or weight-carrying alloys, and less
in the nature of coatings. The changes required in the plasma spraying process to
effect the build-up of thicker deposits, as opposed to thin coatings, are well within
the knowledge and expertise of those ordinarily skilled in the plasma spraying arts.
[0034] It will be understood that various changes and modifications not specifically referred
to herein may be made in the invention herein described, and to its : uses herein
described, without departing from the spirit of the invention particularly as defined
in the. following claims.
[0035] What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is the following.
1. A composition for application to nickel-base superalloy substrates consisting essentially
of, by weight, 1 to 10% cobalt, to 12% chromium, 5 to 8% aluminum, 1 to 10% tantalum,
1 to 10% tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum, 0.1 to 2% hafnium, 0.005 to
0.1% boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
2. The composition of claim 1 consisting essentially of, by weight, 1 to 6% cobalt,
7 to 10% chromium, 5 to 7% aluminum, 4 to 6% tantalum, 3.5 to 5.5% tungsten, 0 to
3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum, 0.5; to 1.5% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.025% boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel
and incidental impurities.
3. The composition of claim 2 consisting essentially of, by weight, 3.8 to 4.2% cobalt,
8.3 to 8.7% chromium, 5.8 to 6.2% aluminum, 4.7 to 5.3% tantalum, 4.2 to 4.8% tungsten,
1.2 to 1.8% rhenium, 1.3 to 1.7% molybdenum, 0.7 to 1.1% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.02% boron,
0.005 to 0.2% carbon, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
4. A high temperature oxidation and corrosion resistant coated nickel-base superalloy
article characterized by high coating-substrate compatibility, said article comprising:
(a) a nickel-base superalloy or nickel-base eutectic superalloy substrate, and
(b) a coating providing at least a portion of the outer surface of said article, said
coating consisting essentially of, by weight, 1 to 10% cobalt, 6 to 12% chromium,
5 to 8% aluminum, 1 to 10% tantalum, 1 to 10% tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum,
0.1 to 2% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.1% boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel
and incidental impurities.
5. The article of claim 4 wherein said coating consists essentially of, by weight,
1 to 6% cobalt, 7 to 10% chromium, 5 to 7% aluminum, 4 to 6% tantalum, 3.5 to 5.5%
tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum, 0.5 to 1.5% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.025%
boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
6. The article of claim 5 wherein said coating consists essentially of, by weight,
3.8 to 4.2% cobalt, 8.3 to 8.7% chromium, 5.8 to 6.2% aluminum, 4.7 to 5.3% tantalum,
4.2 to 4.8% tungsten, 1.2 to 1.8% rhenium, 1.3 to 1.7% molybdenum, 0.7 to 1.1% hafnium,
0.005 to 0.02% boron, 0.005 to 0.2% carbon, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
7. The article of claim 4 wherein said substrate comprises a composite of a nickel-base
superalloy matrix and an aligned fibrous monocarbide eutectic reinforcing phase embedded
in said matrix, the substrate consisting essentially of, by weight, at least an amount
in excess of an impurity amount up to 0.02% of boron, 0 to 9% rhenium, 0 to <0.8%
titanium, 0 to 20% chromium, 0 to 10% aluminum, 3 to 15% tantalum, 0.1 to 1% carbon,
0 to 20% cobalt, 0 to 20% tungsten, 0 to 7% vanadium, 0 to 10% molybdenum, 0 to 3%
columbium, 0 to 3% hafnium, 0 to 1.5% zirconium, the balance nickel and incidental
impurities.
8. The article of claim 7 wherein said substrate consists essentially of about, by
weight, 0.01% boron, 6.44% rhenium, 3.84% chromium, 5.34% aluminum, 11.37% tantalum,
0.43% carbon, 3.8% cobalt, 4.33% tungsten, 3.01% molybdenum, the balance nickel and
incidental impurities.
9. The article of claim 4 wherein said substrate comprises an improved nickel-base
superalloy capable of being cast as a single crystal by directional solidification
consisting essentially of, by weight, 7 to 12% chromium, 1 to 5% molybdenum, 3 to
5% titanium, 3 to 5% aluminum, 5 to 15% cobalt, 3 to 12% tungsten, 2 to 6% tantalum,
up to 10% rhenium, up to 2% columbium, up to 3% vanadium, up to 2% hafnium, the balance
nickel and incidental impurities, further characterized by the substantial absence
of carbon, boron, and zirconium, the alloy having an Al:Ti ratio in the range of about
0.5 to about 1 while maintaining the Cr:Al ratio in the range of about 1.5 to 4.
10. The article of claim 9 wherein said substrate consists essentially of, by weight,
about 9.3% chromium, 7.5% cobalt, 3.7% aluminum, 4% tantalum, 4.2% titanium, 1.5%
molybdenum, 6% tungsten, 0.5% niobium, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
11. A composite article of manufacture comprising:
(i) a nickel-base superalloy or nickel-base eutectic superalloy substrate, and
(ii) one or more thick, built-up regions integral with said substrate, said regions
providing at least a portion of the outer surface of said article, said regions having
a composition consisting of, by weight, 1 to 10% cobalt, 6 to 12% chromium, 5 to 8%
aluminum, 1 to 10% tantalum, 1 to 10% tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum,
0.1 to 2% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.1% boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel
and incidental impurities.
12. The composite article of claim 11 wherein said regions have a composition consisting
essentially of, by weight, 1 to 6% cobalt, 7 to 10% chromium, 5 to 7% aluminum, 4
to 6% tantalum, 3.5 to 5.5% tungsten, 0 to 3% rhenium, 0 to 2% molybdenum, 0.5 to
1.5% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.025% boron, 0.005 to 0.25% carbon, the balance nickel and
incidental impurities.
13. The composite article of claim 12 wherein said regions have a composition consisting
essentially of, by weight, 3.8 to 4.2% cobalt, 8.3 to 8.7% chromium, 5.8 to 6.2% aluminum,
4.7 to 5.3% tantalum, 4.2 to 4.8% tungsten, 1.2 to 1.8% rhenium, 1.3 to 1.7% molybdenum,
0.7 to 1.1% hafnium, 0.005 to 0.02% boron, 0.005 to 0.2% carbon, the balance nickel
and incidental impurities.
14. The article of claim 11 wherein said substrate comprises a composite of a nickel-base
superalloy matrix and an aligned fibrous monocarbide eutectic reinforcing phase embedded
in said matrix, the substrate consisting essentially of, by weight, at least an amount
in excess of an impurity amount up to 0.02% of boron, 0 to 9% rhenium, 0 to <0.8%
titanium, 0 to 20% chromium, 0 to 10% aluminum, 3 to 15% tantalum, 0.1 to 1% carbon,
0 to 20% cobalt, 0 to 20% tungsten, 0 to 7% vanadium, 0 to 10% molybdenum, 0 to 3%
columbium, <0.15% hafnium, 0 to 1.5% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and
incidental impurities.
15. The article of claim 14 wherein said substrate comprises a composite of a nickel-base
superalloy matrix and an aligned fibrous monocarbide eutectic reinforcing phase embedded
in said matrix, the substrate consisting essentially of about, by weight, 0.01% boron,
6.44% rhenium, 3.84% chromium, 5.34% aluminum, 11.37% tantalum, 0.43% carbon, 3.8%
cobalt, 4.33% tungsten, 3.01% molybdenum, the balance nickel and incidental impurities.
16. The article of claim 11 wherein said substrate comprises an improved nickel-base
superalloy capable of being cast as a single crystal by directional solidification
consisting essentially of, by weight: 7 to 12% chromium, 1 to 5% molybdenum, 3 to
S% titanium, 3 to 5% aluminum, 5 to 15% cobalt, 3 to 12% tungsten, 2 to 6% tantalum,
up to 10% rhenium, up to 2% columbium, up to 3% vanadium, up to 2% hafnium, balance
nickel and incidental impurities, and further characterized by the substantial absence
of carbon, boron, and zirconium, the alloy having an Al:Ti ratio in the range of about
0.5 to about 1 while maintaining the Cr:Al ratio in the range of about 1.5 to 4.
17. The article of claim 16 wherein said substrate comprises an improved nickel-base
superalloy capable of being cast as a single crystal by directional solidification
consisting essentially of, by weight: about 9.3% chromium, 7.5% cobalt, 3.7% aluminum,
4% tantalum, 4.2% titanium, 1.5% molybdenum, 6% tungsten, 0.5% niobium, the balance
nickel and incidental impurities.
18. The claim 11 article wherein said substrate is an aircraft gas turbine engine
rotatable blade or stationary vane and said deposit is the tip portion thereof.