Abstract: Hf lowers the incipient melting temperature of superalloy. As carbon content in Hf-bearing alloy decreases, the incipient melting temperature drops furthey. PD ingots have stronger tendency to incipient melting than HRS ones. Even though in PD ingot, the sensitivities at both ends of the ingot are quite different. The melting of Ni_5Hf phase may be considered as one of the main factors affecting incipient melting. The more Ni_5Hf the alloy contains, the more serious the incipient melting becomes. The results of differential thermal analysis (DTA) have proved that the peak of 1135-1160℃ corresponds to the melting range or Ni_5Hf. By means of a pretreatment at 1150℃, 8h, Ni_5Hf phase can be eliminated in two ways: the reaction Ni_5Hf+γ(C)→MC_(2)+γ and solid solution, and therefore the final solid solution treatment can be carried out at 1260℃. This brings about a high homogenized structure and further increases the stress rupture properties of the alloy at 1040℃, 140 MPa.

Key words: DS superalloy, hafnium, incipient melting, phase transformation, heat treatment, stress rupture properties