Investigation of spitting behaviour of NiCoCrAlY type materials during electron beam evaporation

Abstract

Spitting behaviour of four casted and powder metallurgy ingots used in the fabrication of NiCoCrAlY-type environmental protective coatings by electron beam physical vapour deposition was investigated and correlated with ingot microstructures and compositions. Spits found in the coatings mainly consisted of the Ni₅Y phase precipitated in the β-NiAl matrix while their typical size exceeded 50 µm. Spitting was less pronounced for ingots having a higher Cr content, larger size of γ-Ni(Co, Cr) precipitates formed within β-NiAl grains and narrower transitional zone formed at the interface between molten and unmolten ingot regions and consisting of coarsened β grains. Large (above 100 µm) agglomerates of the Ni₅Y phase detected below the zone were identified as the main spit precursors.