Intermediate temperature creep mechanisms in Ni 3 Al

The intermediate-temperature creep response of single-crystal Ni3Al(Ta) has been investigated along both [123] and [001] axial orientations. The effect of the existing deformation structure (i.e. pre-straining) on the [123] creep response was reported. The creep responses of virgin specimens and specimens prestrained at room temperature (RT) and 520degreesC are compared. In order to compare the dislocation structures prior to creep, the microstructure of specimens which had been deformed at a constant strain rate at RT and 520degreesC, but not subjected to creep, was also examined. Creep curves show that the temperature of pre-strain influences the subsequent creep properties. The primary creep response, like the yielding response, appears to be controlled by the kink size distribution, while the secondary creep response is thought to be controlled by the kink separation (or the length of the Kear-Wilsdorf locks). Specimens crept along [123] display steady state creep properties and rectangularly oriented [101](010) dislocations, while a virgin specimen crept along [001] displays an increasing secondary creep rate (inverse creep) and {100}-type dislocations. Inverse creep along [001] is thought to be the result of an increasing density of edge kink octahedral sources where there is little resolved shear stress on the cube planes.