Institute of Metals Division - Dilute Alloying Effects on Recrystallization in Nickel as Compared with Other Transition Element Solvents

The effect of transition element binary solid solution additions upon the re crystallization temperature of nickel has been investigated. All additions raised the re crystallization temperature. Both the rate of change of re crystallization temperature with at. pet solute and the limit of initial linearity are found to correlate with the free atom ground state outer electron configuration of the solute element. A comparison of all of the correlations for the transition elements studied has yielded a set of empirical relations, which allows the prediction of the effect of dilute binary transition elements on the recrystallization temperature of other transition elements. The work of Abrahamson, et al.1-7 on dilute binary solution alloys indicated a correlation between the free atom ground state electron configuration of the solute and both the brittle-ductile transition and re-crystallization temperature. Further, it has been shown3,4 that the limit of initial linearity may also be correlated with the solute electron configuration. Since previous studies have dealt with bee and hexagonal base elements, this study is made to note what effect, if any, the fee base structure might have. Nickel also serves to give a solvent configuration which will allow the comparison of all of the transition element solvents. Olsen8 has studied the effect of some trace elements upon the recrystallization of nickel. He included only Ti, Zr, W, Mn, and Co of the transition elements. The differences in change of recrystallization temperature were attributed to the solute atom size and to the solubility of the solute in nickel. PROCEDURE All alloys were made using 99.9 + pet Ni with 0.003 C, 0.015 Fe, 0.007 0, and 0.0007 H. The solute elements were 99.9 + pet pure. According to the published binary phase diagrams9 and metallo-graphic examinations at X750, all solute elements were in solid solution. The alloys were arc melted and remelted four times in the form of cubic 200-g buttons under an argon atmosphere. They were then hot forged at 800oC to 0.750 in. diam, machined to 0.60 in., vacuum annealed for 1 hr at 700°c, swaged to 0.40 in. and annealed at 700oC for 1 hr in vacuum. The grain size was checked and found to be 77 * 20 grains per sq mm. The specimens were then swaged to 0.187 in., yielding 76 ± 1 pet cold work. All alloys were then chemically analyzed for the solute addition. The interstitial contents remained at the values of the starting material when checked on random alloy specimens. The swaged rod was cut into 8.25 in. lengths and heat treated in a gradient furnace for 1 hr. The gradient was maintained at 250" to 850°C over an eight inch length, recorded by twelve thermocouples. Control was ± 3oC, accomplished at the hot end. The recrystallization was determined metallo-graphically over the entire specimen. The criterion chosen was that point on the specimen showing the first recrystallized grain at a constant magnification, X200. Specimens were repeated, and the agreement was found to be generally ± 3oC.