Hot deformation behavior of delta-processed superalloy 718

Flow stress behavior and microstructures during hot compression of delta-processed superalloy 718 at temperatures from 950 to 1100°C with strain rates of 10^-3 to 1s^-1 were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The relationship between the peak stress and the deformation conditions can be expressed by a hyperbolic-sine type equation. The activation energy for the delta-processed superalloy 718 is determined to be 467kJ/mol. The change of the dominant deformation mechanisms leads to the decrease of stress exponent and the increase of activation energy with increasing temperature. The dynamically recrystallized grain size is inversely proportional to the Zener-Hollomon (Z) parameter. It is found that the dissolution rate of δ phases under hot deformation conditions is much faster than that under static conditions. Dislocation, vacancy and curvature play important roles in the dissolution of δ phases. The main nucleation mechanisms of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) for the delta-processed superalloy 718 include the bulging of original grain boundaries and the δ phase stimulated DRX nucleation, which is closely related to the dissolution behavior of δ phases under certain deformation conditions.