Study of casting from IN100 nickel-based superalloy using quantitative metallography and analytical electron miroscopy

The polycrystalline cast IN100 superalloy was selected for this investigation. It is characterized by dendritic segregation. The major phases which are present in the IN100 superalloy are the ordered γ' (Ni₃Al-type) phase together with a disordered solid-solution γ matrix, and carbides. Additionally, a structural element occurs in the microstructure: colonies of (γ + γ') eutectic. The main purpose of this work was to report on the following steps of the IN100 superalloy investigation: specimen preparation with microstructure revealing, image acquisition, computer-aided image analysis with detection of the investigated areas and their measurements. The volume fractions and chemical compositions of the phases were assessed using conventional metallographic and analytical electron microscopy techniques.