The effect of Zr on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of NiAl at 1000 K

Abstract

The effect of a 0.1 at. % alloying addition of Zr on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of polycrystalline NiAl was determined at 1000 K and compared to that of binary NiAl. Samples of binary NiAl and the Zr-doped alloy were processed by either HIP consolidation or extrusion of prealloyed intermetallic powders. The cyclic stress response, cyclic stress-strain behavior, and strain-life relationships were all significantly influenced by the microalloying addition of Zr, regardless of the processing technique. A detailed examination of the post-tested low-cycle fatigue (LCF) samples was conducted by optical and electron microscopy to determine variations in fracture and deformation modes and to characterize any microstructural changes that occurred during LCF testing. Differences in LCF behavior due to the Zr addition are attributed to the strong effect that Zr has on modifying the deformation behavior of the intermetallic.