Abstract:
To improve the microstructure and mechanical property of TIG welding rapid forming GH4169 superalloy samples, electromagnetic stirring was combined to WRF and samples were fabricated with different magnetic field strengths. The effect of magnetic field current on microstructure, hardness and tensile property was investigated experimentally. Microstructure observation shows that continuous epitaxial growth of columnar grains is the typical characteristic of WRFed GH4169 superalloy, and no obvious metallurgical defect is found. Within certain rang of magnetic field strength, the amount of Laves phase decreases along with the increase of magnetic field current, which leading to the enhancement of microhardness through the improvement of homogeneity of microstructure, for example, the microhardness increased from HV 232 to HV 253 when magnetic field current changed from 0 A to 1.0 A. Tensile testing at room temperature shows a better ultimate tensile strength of 660 MPa for a higher magnetic field current of 0.5 A; however, it decreased to 520 MPa when a too much higher magnetic field current of 9.0 A is used.