On the Assessment and Rationalisation of Heterogeneous Nucleation in Investment Cast Superalloys

Richa Gupta; Ben Goodyer; Dmytro Shevchenko; Roger Reed; Joseph Moses; Nils Warnken; Owen Draper; Nick Green

doi:10.1007/s11661-025-08057-z

On the Assessment and Rationalisation of Heterogeneous Nucleation in Investment Cast Superalloys

Richa Gupta
, Ben Goodyer
, Dmytro Shevchenko
, Roger Reed
, Joseph Moses
, Nils Warnken
, Owen Draper
, Nick Green^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

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Abstract

Liquid metal/ceramic reactions are studied using an experimental arrangement reliant on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The undercooling needed to stimulate solidification is shown to depend strongly upon the chemistry of the ceramic but also the oxygen partial pressure. Ceramics based upon Y₂O₃ and related compounds are emphasized. Characterization using electron microscopy of the interfacial reaction products is used to rationalize the reaction pathways. Our results shed light on the importance of the ceramic mould chemistry in promoting nucleation in these systems. This insight carries significant implications for practical applications, including (i) evaluating zircon sources and impurity effects (ii) developing new mould formulation less prone to secondary grain nucleation in casting regions isolated from the advancing solidification front; and (iii) identification of grain refiners tailored for equiaxed solidification in superalloy castings.

Original language	English
Number of pages	13
Journal	Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
Early online date	12 Jan 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-025-08057-z
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 12 Jan 2026
Event	5th European Symposium on Superalloys and their applications - French Riviera, Gien, France Duration: 3 May 2026 → 7 May 2026 https://eurosuperalloys.sciencesconf.org/

Bibliographical note

Topical Collection: EUROSUPERALLOYS 2026

Access to Document

10.1007/s11661-025-08057-zLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

GuptaR2026AssessmentFinal published version, 2.59 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Advanced Research into Crystallographic Anisotropy & Nucleation Effects in single crystals (ARCANE)
Withey, P. (Co-Investigator), Bowen, P. (Co-Investigator), Styles, I. (Co-Investigator), Green, N. (Principal Investigator), Tino, P. (Co-Investigator) & Warnken, N. (Co-Investigator)
Rolls Royce, Engineering & Physical Science Research Council
1/06/23 → 31/05/28
Project: Research Councils

Cite this

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title = "On the Assessment and Rationalisation of Heterogeneous Nucleation in Investment Cast Superalloys",

abstract = "Liquid metal/ceramic reactions are studied using an experimental arrangement reliant on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The undercooling needed to stimulate solidification is shown to depend strongly upon the chemistry of the ceramic but also the oxygen partial pressure. Ceramics based upon Y2O3 and related compounds are emphasized. Characterization using electron microscopy of the interfacial reaction products is used to rationalize the reaction pathways. Our results shed light on the importance of the ceramic mould chemistry in promoting nucleation in these systems. This insight carries significant implications for practical applications, including (i) evaluating zircon sources and impurity effects (ii) developing new mould formulation less prone to secondary grain nucleation in casting regions isolated from the advancing solidification front; and (iii) identification of grain refiners tailored for equiaxed solidification in superalloy castings.",

author = "Richa Gupta and Ben Goodyer and Dmytro Shevchenko and Roger Reed and Joseph Moses and Nils Warnken and Owen Draper and Nick Green",

note = "Topical Collection: EUROSUPERALLOYS 2026; 5th European Symposium on Superalloys and their applications, Superalloys 2026 ; Conference date: 03-05-2026 Through 07-05-2026",

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doi = "10.1007/s11661-025-08057-z",

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journal = "Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - On the Assessment and Rationalisation of Heterogeneous Nucleation in Investment Cast Superalloys

AU - Gupta, Richa

AU - Goodyer, Ben

AU - Shevchenko, Dmytro

AU - Reed, Roger

AU - Moses, Joseph

AU - Warnken, Nils

AU - Draper, Owen

AU - Green, Nick

N1 - Topical Collection: EUROSUPERALLOYS 2026

PY - 2026/1/12

Y1 - 2026/1/12

N2 - Liquid metal/ceramic reactions are studied using an experimental arrangement reliant on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The undercooling needed to stimulate solidification is shown to depend strongly upon the chemistry of the ceramic but also the oxygen partial pressure. Ceramics based upon Y2O3 and related compounds are emphasized. Characterization using electron microscopy of the interfacial reaction products is used to rationalize the reaction pathways. Our results shed light on the importance of the ceramic mould chemistry in promoting nucleation in these systems. This insight carries significant implications for practical applications, including (i) evaluating zircon sources and impurity effects (ii) developing new mould formulation less prone to secondary grain nucleation in casting regions isolated from the advancing solidification front; and (iii) identification of grain refiners tailored for equiaxed solidification in superalloy castings.

AB - Liquid metal/ceramic reactions are studied using an experimental arrangement reliant on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The undercooling needed to stimulate solidification is shown to depend strongly upon the chemistry of the ceramic but also the oxygen partial pressure. Ceramics based upon Y2O3 and related compounds are emphasized. Characterization using electron microscopy of the interfacial reaction products is used to rationalize the reaction pathways. Our results shed light on the importance of the ceramic mould chemistry in promoting nucleation in these systems. This insight carries significant implications for practical applications, including (i) evaluating zircon sources and impurity effects (ii) developing new mould formulation less prone to secondary grain nucleation in casting regions isolated from the advancing solidification front; and (iii) identification of grain refiners tailored for equiaxed solidification in superalloy castings.

UR - https://link.springer.com/journal/11661

U2 - 10.1007/s11661-025-08057-z

DO - 10.1007/s11661-025-08057-z

M3 - Conference article

SN - 0360-2133

JO - Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science

JF - Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science

T2 - 5th European Symposium on Superalloys and their applications

Y2 - 3 May 2026 through 7 May 2026

ER -

On the Assessment and Rationalisation of Heterogeneous Nucleation in Investment Cast Superalloys

Abstract

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Projects

Advanced Research into Crystallographic Anisotropy & Nucleation Effects in single crystals (ARCANE)

Cite this